00749nas a2200193 4500008004500000245013100045210006900176100002000245700002500265700002500290700002600315700003000341700002700371700001800398700002200416700002300438700001800461856007600479 In Press eng d 00aField experiments have enhanced our understanding of drought impacts on terrestrial ecosystems—But where do we go from here?0 aField experiments have enhanced our understanding of drought imp1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aCondon, Kathleen, V.1 aFolks, Christine, C.1 aSturchio, Matthew, A.1 aGriffin-Nolan, Robert, J.1 aKannenberg, Steven, A.1 aGill, Amy, S.1 aHajek, Olivia, L.1 aSiggers, Alexander1 aSmith, M., D. uhttps://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.1446000645nas a2200205 4500008004100000022001400041245007800055210006900133300001200202490000800214100001300222700002400235700002100259700002200280700002500302700001800327700002900345700001900374856004600393 2022 eng d a0027-551400aFire as a driver of fungal diversity — A synthesis of current knowledge0 aFire as a driver of fungal diversity A synthesis of current know a215-2410 v1141 aFox, Sam1 aSikes, Benjamin, A.1 aBrown, Shawn, P.1 aCripps, Cathy, L.1 aGlassman, Sydney, I.1 aHughes, Karen1 aSemenova-Nelsen, Tatiana1 aJumpponen, Ari uhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35344467/00485nas a2200121 4500008004100000245010600041210006900147260004300216490001400259100002300273700001300296856005400309 2021 eng d00aFate of CO2 in tallgrass prairie watershed underlain by merokarst bedrock, Konza Prairie, Kansas, USA0 aFate of CO2 in tallgrass prairie watershed underlain by merokars aManhattan, KSbKansas State University0 vMS Thesis1 aAndrews, Katherine1 aKirk, M. uhttps://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/4148602277nas a2200145 4500008004100000245011200041210006900153300001600222490000800238520177500246100001602021700001802037700001902055856005702074 2021 eng d00aFire and browsing interact to alter intra-clonal stem dynamics of an encroaching shrub in tallgrass prairie0 aFire and browsing interact to alter intraclonal stem dynamics of a1039 - 10480 v1963 a

The expansion of woody species into grasslands has altered community structure and ecosystem function of grasslands worldwide. In tallgrass prairie of the Central Great Plains, USA, decreased fire frequency and intensity have increased the cover and abundance of woody species. In particular, clonal shrub cover has increased at accelerated rates due to vegetative reproduction and resprouting after disturbance. We measured the intra-clonal stem demography and relative growth rates (estimated change in woody biomass) of the shrub Cornus drummondii in response to fire frequency (4 vs 20year burn intervals) and simulated browsing during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons at Konza Prairie Biological Station (Manhattan, Kansas). Overall, infrequent fire (4year burn interval) increased intra-clonal stem relative growth rates and shrub relative growth rates. Intra-clonal stem relative growth rates were reduced in unbrowsed clones in 2018 due to drought and simu-lated browsing reduced intra-clonal stem relative growth rates in 2019. Additionally, simulated browsing nearly eliminated flower production within clones but did not affect intra-clonal stem mortality or recruitment within a growing season. Fire in conjunction with simulated browsing reduced estimated relative growth rates for entire shrub clones. Browsed shrubs that experienced prescribed fire in 2017 had reduced intra-clonal stem densities compared to unbrowsed shrubs and stem densities of browsed shrubs did not recover in 2018 or 2019. These results illustrate that infrequent fire alone promotes the expansion of clonal shrubs in tallgrass prairie and multiple interacting disturbances (e.g., fire and browsing) are required to control the spread of clonal shrubs into grasslands.

1 aWedel, E.R.1 aNippert, J.B.1 aHartnett, D.C. uhttps://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00442-021-04980-101697nas a2200181 4500008004100000245006900041210006800110300001200178490000700190520114100197100002301338700001801361700001801379700001901397700001801416700001901434856006201453 2021 eng d00aFire frequency, state change and hysteresis in tallgrass prairie0 aFire frequency state change and hysteresis in tallgrass prairie a636-6470 v243 a

Hysteresis is a fundamental characteristic of alternative stable state theory, yet evidence of hysteresis is rare. In mesic grasslands, fire frequency regulates transition from grass‐ to shrub‐dominated system states. It is uncertain, however, if increasing fire frequency can reverse shrub expansion, or if grass‐shrub dynamics exhibit hysteresis. We implemented annual burning in two infrequently burned grasslands and ceased burning in two grasslands burned annually. With annual fires, grassland composition converged on that of long‐term annually burned vegetation due to rapid recovery of grass cover, although shrubs persisted. When annual burning ceased, shrub cover increased, but community composition did not converge with a long‐term infrequently burned reference site because of stochastic and lagged dispersal by shrubs, reflecting hysteresis. Our results demonstrated that annual burning can slow, but not reverse, shrub encroachment. In addition, reversing fire frequencies resulted in hysteresis because vegetation trajectories from grassland to shrubland differed from those of shrubland to grassland.

1 aCollins, Scott, L.1 aNippert, J.B.1 aBlair, J., M.1 aBriggs, J., M.1 aBlackmore, P.1 aRatajczak, Zak uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ele.1367600665nas a2200217 4500008004100000245006500041210006500106300001400171490000800185653003900193653001900232653001400251653000900265653001400274653001800288653002100306100002300327700002100350700002000371856005600391 2021 eng d00aFire history as a key determinant of grassland soil CO2 flux0 aFire history as a key determinant of grassland soil CO2 flux a579–5920 v46010aaboveground net primary production10acarbon cycling10aecosystem10afire10agrassland10asoil CO2 flux10asoil respiration1 aSlette, Ingrid, J.1 aLiebert, Alannah1 aKnapp, Alan, K. uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11104-020-04781-002170nas a2200181 4500008004100000245009200041210007100133300001400204490000700218520157000225100002401795700001201819700002001831700001801851700002001869700001901889856008001908 2019 eng d00aFire, grazing and climate shape plant–grasshopper interactions in a tallgrass prairie0 aFire grazing and climate shape plant–grasshopper interactions in a735 - 7450 v333 a

1. Species interactions are integral to ecological community function, and the      structure of species interactions has repercussions for the consequences of species extinctions. Few studies  have examined the role of environmental factors in controlling species interaction networks across time.
2. We examined variation in plant–grasshopper network structural properties in response to three major grassland drivers: periodic fire, ungulate grazing and climate.
3. We sequenced a plant barcoding gene from extracted grasshopper gut contents to characterize diets of 26 grasshopper species. Resulting grasshopper species’ diets were combined with long‐term plant and grasshopper surveys to assemble plant–grasshopper networks across 13–19 years for six watersheds subjected to varying fire and grazing treatments.
4. Network modularity, generality and predicted grasshopper community robustness to plant species loss all increased in grazed watersheds. Temperature decreased predicted grasshopper community robustness to plant species loss.
5. Grasshopper communities were found to be vulnerable to climatic warming due to host plant loss. However, intermediate disturbance from ungulate grazers may maintain grasshopper diversity and buffer community robustness to species loss. Our results suggest that climate and disturbance shape the structure of ecological interaction networks and thus have many indirect effects on species persistence though direct effects on interaction partners.

1 aWelti, Ellen, A. R.1 aFan, Q.1 aTetreault, H.M.1 aUngerer, M.C.1 aBlair, John, M.1 aJoern, Anthony uhttps://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1365-2435.1327200671nas a2200205 4500008004100000245012800041210006900169300001400238490000800252100001800260700001800278700001700296700001700313700001900330700001300349700001500362700001300377700001900390856005600409 2019 eng d00aFollowing legume establishment, microbial and chemical associations facilitate improved productivity in degraded grasslands0 aFollowing legume establishment microbial and chemical associatio a273 - 2920 v4431 aZhou, Jiqiong1 aZhang, Fengge1 aHuo, Yunqian1 aWilson, G.T.1 aCobb, Adam, B.1 aXu, Xixi1 aXiong, Xue1 aLiu, Lin1 aZhang, Yingjun uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11104-019-04169-903304nas a2200217 4500008004100000245012500041210006900166300001100235490000700246520259200253100001802845700002902863700001902892700002002911700001902931700002202950700002102972700001702993700002203010856005403032 2019 eng d00aThe freshwater biome gradient framework: predicting macroscale properties based on latitude, altitude, and precipitation0 afreshwater biome gradient framework predicting macroscale proper ae027860 v103 a

Understanding global ecological patterns and processes, from biogeochemical to biogeographical, requires broad‐scale macrosystems context for comparing and contrasting ecosystems. Climate gradients (precipitation and temperature) and other continental‐scale patterns shape freshwater environments due to their influences on terrestrial environments and their direct and indirect effects on the abiotic and biotic characteristics of lakes, streams, and wetlands. We combined literature review, analyses of open access data, and logical argument to assess abiotic and biotic characters of freshwater systems across gradients of latitude and elevation that drive precipitation, temperature, and other variability. We explored the predictive value of analyzing patterns in freshwater ecosystems at the global macrosystems scale. We found many patterns based on climate, particularly those dependent upon hydrologic characteristics and linked to characteristics of terrestrial biomes. For example, continental waters of dry areas will generally be widely dispersed and have higher probability of drying and network disconnection, greater temperatures, greater inorganic turbidity, greater salinity, and lower riparian canopy cover relative to areas with high precipitation. These factors will influence local community composition and ecosystem rates. Enough studies are now available at the continental or global scale to start to characterize patterns under a coherent conceptual framework, though considerable gaps exist in the tropics and less developed regions. We present illustrative global‐scale trends of abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic impacts in freshwater ecosystems across gradients of precipitation and temperature to further understanding of broad‐scale trends and to aid prediction in the face of global change. We view freshwater systems as occurring across arrays of multiple gradients (including latitude, altitude, and precipitation) rather than areas with specific boundaries. While terrestrial biomes capture some variability along these gradients that influence freshwaters, other features such as, slope, geology, and historical glaciation also influence freshwaters. Our conceptual framework is not so much a single hypothesis as a way to logically characterize patterns in freshwaters at scales relevant to (1) evolutionary processes that give rise to freshwater biodiversity, (2) regulatory units that influence freshwater ecosystems, and (3) the current scope of anthropogenic impacts on freshwaters and the vital ecosystem services they provide.

1 aDodds, W., K.1 aBruckerhoff, Lindsey, A.1 aBatzer, Darold1 aSchechner, Anne1 aPennock, Casey1 aRenner, Elizabeth1 aTromboni, Flavia1 aBigham, Kari1 aGrieger, Samantha uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/21508925/10/701657nam a2200169 4500008004100000020001800041022001800059245007700077210006900154250000600223260001300229300000800242520112400250100001801374700001701392856007801409 2019 eng d a9780128132562 a978012813255500aFreshwater ecology: concepts and environmental applications of limnology0 aFreshwater ecology concepts and environmental applications of li a3 bElsevier a9983 a

Description: Freshwater Ecology, Third Edition, covers everything from the basic chemical and physical properties of water, to the advanced and unifying concepts of community ecology and ecosystem relationships found in continental waters. Giving students a solid foundation for both courses and future fieldwork, and updated to include key issues, including how to balance ecological and human health needs, GMOs, molecular tools, fracking, and a host of other environmental issues, this book is an ideal resource for both students and practitioners in ecology and related fields.
Key Features: 1. Provides an updated revision of this classic text, covering both basic scientific concepts and environmental applications.
2. Includes additional biography boxes with greater cultural diversity of the featured scientists
3. Covers expanded content on developing nations, ecosystem goods and services, properties of water, global change, impacts of fracking, molecular tools for classification and identification of aquatic organisms, a discussion of emergent diseases and aquatic habitats, and more

1 aDodds, W., K.1 aWhiles, M.R. uhttps://www.elsevier.com/books/freshwater-ecology/dodds/978-0-12-813255-500481nas a2200121 4500008004100000245010800041210006900149260004600218490001400264100001900278700001800297856004400315 2018 eng d00aFacilitating nurse plant survival with mycorrhizal inoculum following eradication of a non-native grass0 aFacilitating nurse plant survival with mycorrhizal inoculum foll aStillwater, OKbOklahoma State University0 vMS Thesis1 aWilson, L.O.R.1 aHickman, K.R. uhttps://shareok.org/handle/11244/31769802297nas a2200169 4500008004100000245007600041210006900117300001400186490000800200520175200208100001801960700002101978700002301999700002202022700001702044856006602061 2018 eng d00aFine-scale movement and habitat use of a prairie stream fish assemblage0 aFinescale movement and habitat use of a prairie stream fish asse a831–8420 v1863 a

Measuring an organism's movement and habitat use is highly dependent on the spatial and temporal scale of the study, with most studies measuring distributions once a day or at less frequent intervals. Yet, to fully understand the rates of intra- and interspecific encounters among individuals, observations at finer spatial and temporal scales might be necessary. We used passive integrated transponder tags and antenna arrays to continuously monitor habitat use and vagility of three stream minnows; southern redbelly dace Chrosomus erythrogaster, central stoneroller Campostoma anomalum, and creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus, among and within pools of an intermittent stream. Most fish remained in the pool where they were caught and released, or returned after emigrating from the pool. Despite largely remaining within the release pool, distribution among four microhabitats differed significantly over six, 4-h time periods for all three species. Vagility, the summed distance moved among antennas, differed significantly among species. Individual vagility (m day-1) increased significantly with body length for stoneroller and chub, but not dace. Some individuals moved as much as 110 m day-1 within the pool, showcasing extensive movement at fine scales. Finally, we found no evidence that feeding activity changed as a result of differential habitat use over a 24-h period. Our findings indicate considerable variation in habitat use and movement occurs among species over a 24-h period. This suggests ecologists can broaden the interpretation of processes influencing community structure (e.g., resource partitioning, avoidance of predators) by quantifying species distributions across a range of spatial and temporal scales.

1 aPennock, C.A.1 aCathcart, Nathan1 aHedden, Skyler, C.1 aWeber, Robert, E.1 aGido, K., B. uhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00442-018-4073-y02299nas a2200193 4500008004100000245011700041210007100158300001200229490000800241520165500249653002201904653001601926653002401942653001701966653001601983100002401999700001902023856006302042 2018 eng d00aFire and grazing modulate the structure and resistance of plant–floral visitor networks in a tallgrass prairie0 aFire and grazing modulate the structure and resistance of plant– a517-5280 v1863 a

Significant loss of pollinator taxa and their interactions with flowering plants has resulted in growing reductions to pollination services globally. Ecological network analysis is a useful tool for evaluating factors that alter the interaction structure and resistance of systems to species loss, but is rarely applied across multiple empirical networks sampled within the same study. The non-random arrangement of species interactions within a community, or “network structure” such as nested or modular organization, is predicted to prevent extinction cascades in ecological networks. How ecological gradients such as disturbance regimes shape network structural properties remains poorly understood despite significant efforts to quantify interaction structure in natural systems. Here, we examine changes in the structure of plant–floral visitor networks in a tallgrass prairie using a decadal and landscape-scale experiment that manipulates prescribed burn frequency and ungulate grazing, resulting in different grassland states. Plant and floral visitor communities and accompanying network structure were impacted by grassland fire and grazing regimes. The presence of grazers increased flowering plant species richness, network floral visitor species richness, and decreased network nestedness. Fire frequency affected flowering plant and floral visitor community composition; community composition impacted network specialization and modularity. Grassland state resulting from fire-grazing interactions has important implications for the resistance of flowering plant and floral visitor communities to species loss.

10aCommunity ecology10adisturbance10aEcological networks10aInteractions10aPollinators1 aWelti, Ellen, A. R.1 aJoern, Anthony uhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-017-4019-903284nas a2200385 4500008004100000245011800041210007100159300001400230490000700244520218900251100001702440700001402457700001802471700001802489700001402507700001702521700001402538700001702552700001802569700001402587700002102601700001702622700002302639700001902662700001402681700001902695700001602714700001502730700001802745700001802763700002002781700001602801700001902817856006202836 2016 eng d00aFew multiyear precipitation–reduction experiments find a shift in the productivity–precipitation relationship0 aFew multiyear precipitation–reduction experiments find a shift i a2570-25810 v223 a

Well-defined productivity–precipitation relationships of ecosystems are needed as benchmarks for the validation of land models used for future projections. The productivity–precipitation relationship may be studied in two ways: the spatial approach relates differences in productivity to those in precipitation among sites along a precipitation gradient (the spatial fit, with a steeper slope); the temporal approach relates interannual productivity changes to variation in precipitation within sites (the temporal fits, with flatter slopes). Precipitation–reduction experiments in natural ecosystems represent a complement to the fits, because they can reduce precipitation below the natural range and are thus well suited to study potential effects of climate drying. Here, we analyse the effects of dry treatments in eleven multiyear precipitation–manipulation experiments, focusing on changes in the temporal fit. We expected that structural changes in the dry treatments would occur in some experiments, thereby reducing the intercept of the temporal fit and displacing the productivity–precipitation relationship downward the spatial fit. The majority of experiments (72%) showed that dry treatments did not alter the temporal fit. This implies that current temporal fits are to be preferred over the spatial fit to benchmark land-model projections of productivity under future climate within the precipitation ranges covered by the experiments. Moreover, in two experiments, the intercept of the temporal fit unexpectedly increased due to mechanisms that reduced either water loss or nutrient loss. The expected decrease of the intercept was observed in only one experiment, and only when distinguishing between the late and the early phases of the experiment. This implies that we currently do not know at which precipitation–reduction level or at which experimental duration structural changes will start to alter ecosystem productivity. Our study highlights the need for experiments with multiple, including more extreme, dry treatments, to identify the precipitation boundaries within which the current temporal fits remain valid.

1 aEstiarte, M.1 aVicca, S.1 aPeñuelas, J.1 aBahn, Michael1 aBeier, C.1 aEmmett, B.A.1 aFay, P.A.1 aHanson, P.J.1 aHasibeder, R.1 aKigel, J.1 aKröel-Dulay, G.1 aLarsen, K.S.1 aLellei-Kovács, E.1 aLimousin, J-M.1 aOgaya, R.1 aOurcival, J-M.1 aReinsch, S.1 aSala, O.E.1 aSchmidt, I.K.1 aSternberg, M.1 aTielbörger, K.1 aTietema, A.1 aJanssens, I.A. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/gcb.1326902166nas a2200157 4500008004100000245014200041210006900183300001600252490000700268520160400275100001801879700001701897700001701914700001501931856006201946 2016 eng d00aThe first to arrive and the last to leave: colonisation and extinction dynamics of common and rare fishes in intermittent prairie streams0 afirst to arrive and the last to leave colonisation and extinctio a1321–13340 v613 a

1. The objectives of our research were to examine commonness–rarity patterns in fish communities in networks of intermittent streams. We quantified species abundance distributions and the importance of nestedness and turnover to community dissimilarity and then related commonness to colonisation, extinction and physiological tolerance. Patterns and relationships were evaluated spatially among sites and temporally within sites during non-drought and drought periods in tallgrass prairie streams of eastern Kansas, U.S.A. 2. Supra-seasonal drought during 2011–2013 resulted in complete or partial drying of some sites and provided an opportunity to evaluate whether commonness was predictive of rather than predicted by colonisation and extinction. Abundance was used to predict re-colonisation in desiccated reaches and persistence in drying pools. 3. Few species were common, while most were rare regardless of drought, and nestedness drove community dissimilarity across sites. Common species had higher colonisation and lower extinction than rarer species, but physiological tolerance was unrelated to commonness. 4. Abundant species were generally the first to re-colonise desiccated reaches, but pre-drought abun-dance did not predict persistence in partially desiccated reaches. 5. Although common species were the first to colonise and the last to go extinct, we were unable to determine whether commonness was predictive of rather than predicted by colonisation and extinc-tion. Regardless, our study demonstrates linkages among commonness, colonisation and extinction.

1 aWhitney, J.E.1 aGido, K., B.1 aMartin, E.C.1 aHase, K.J. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/fwb.1266802240nas a2200157 4500008004100000245012900041210006900170300001700239490000600256520167900262100001701941700001901958700002301977700001902000856006302019 2016 eng d00aForaging decisions underlying restricted space use: effects of fire and forage maturation on large herbivore nutrient uptake0 aForaging decisions underlying restricted space use effects of fi a5843–5853 0 v63 a

Recent models suggest that herbivores optimize nutrient intake by selecting patches of low to intermediate vegetation biomass. We assessed the application of this hypothesis to plains bison (Bison bison) in an experimental grassland managed with fire by estimating daily rates of nutrient intake in relation to grass biomass and by measuring patch selection in experimental watersheds in which grass biomass was manipulated by prescribed burning. Digestible crude protein content of grass declined linearly with increasing biomass, and the mean digestible protein content relative to grass biomass was greater in burned watersheds than watersheds not burned that spring (intercept; F1,251 = 50.57, P < 0.0001). Linking these values to published functional response parameters, ad libitum protein intake, and protein expenditure parameters, Fryxell's (Am. Nat., 1991, 138, 478) model predicted that the daily rate of protein intake should be highest when bison feed in grasslands with 400–600 kg/ha. In burned grassland sites, where bison spend most of their time, availability of grass biomass ranged between 40 and 3650 kg/ha, bison selected foraging areas of roughly 690 kg/ha, close to the value for protein intake maximization predicted by the model. The seasonal net protein intake predicted for large grazers in this study suggest feeding in burned grassland can be more beneficial for nutrient uptake relative to unburned grassland as long as grass regrowth is possible. Foraging site selection for grass patches of low to intermediate biomass help explain patterns of uniform space use reported previously for large grazers in fire-prone systems.

1 aRaynor, E.J.1 aJoern, Anthony1 aNippert, Jesse, B.1 aBriggs, J., M. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.230403188nas a2200301 4500008004100000245007800041210006900119300001100188490000600199520232000205100001702525700001902542700001802561700001602579700002202595700001702617700001802634700001902652700001602671700001702687700001702704700001702721700001602738700001702754700001602771700002102787856007802808 2015 eng d00aFactors affecting female space use in ten populations of prairie chickens0 aFactors affecting female space use in ten populations of prairie aart1660 v63 a

Conservation of wildlife depends on an understanding of the interactions between animal movements and key landscape factors. Habitat requirements of wide-ranging species often vary spatially, but quantitative assessment of variation among replicated studies at multiple sites is rare. We investigated patterns of space use for 10 populations of two closely related species of prairie grouse: Greater Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) and Lesser Prairie-Chickens (T. pallidicinctus). Prairie chickens require large, intact tracts of native grasslands, and are umbrella species for conservation of prairie ecosystems in North America. We used resource utilization functions to investigate space use by female prairie chickens during the 6-month breeding season from March through August in relation to lek sites, habitat conditions, and anthropogenic development. Our analysis included data from 382 radio-marked individuals across a major portion of the extant range. Our project is a unique opportunity to study comparative space use of prairie chickens, and we employed standardized methods that facilitated direct comparisons across an ecological gradient of study sites. Median home range size of females varied ~10-fold across 10 sites (3.6–36.7 km2), and home ranges tended to be larger at sites with higher annual precipitation. Proximity to lek sites was a strong and consistent predictor of space use for female prairie chickens at all 10 sites. The relative importance of other predictors of space use varied among sites, indicating that generalized habitat management guidelines may not be appropriate for these two species. Prairie chickens actively selected for prairie habitats, even at sites where ~90% of the land cover within the study area was prairie. A majority of the females monitored in our study (>95%) had activity centers within 5 km of leks, suggesting that conservation efforts can be effectively concentrated near active lek sites. Our data on female space use suggest that lek surveys of male prairie chickens can indirectly assess habitat suitability for females during the breeding season. Lek monitoring and surveys for new leks provide information on population trends, but can also guide management actions aimed at improving nesting and brood-rearing habitats.

1 aWinder, V.L.1 aCarrlson, K.M.1 aGregory, A.J.1 aHagen, C.A.1 aHaukos, David, A.1 aKesler, D.C.1 aLarsson, L.C.1 aMatthews, T.W.1 aMcNew, L.B.1 aPatten, M.A.1 aPitman, J.C.1 aPowell, L.A.1 aSmith, J.A.1 aThompson, T.1 aWolfe, D.H.1 aSandercock, B.K. uhttps://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1890/ES14-00536.102499nas a2200181 4500008004100000245010300041210006900144260001600213300001100229490000700240520186700247100002102114700002102135700002102156700002002177700002102197856009902218 2015 eng d00aFire history reconstruction in grassland ecosystems: amount of charcoal reflects local area burned0 aFire history reconstruction in grassland ecosystems amount of ch cJan-11-2015 a1140090 v103 a

Fire is one of the most prevalent disturbances in the Earth system, and its past characteristics can be reconstructed using charcoal particles preserved in depositional environments. Although researchers know that fires produce charcoal particles, interpretation of the quantity or composition of charcoal particles in terms of fire source remains poorly understood. In this study, we used a unique four-year dataset of charcoal deposited in traps from a native tallgrass prairie in mid-North America to test which environmental factors were linked to charcoal measurements on three spatial scales. We investigated small and large charcoal particles commonly used as a proxy of fire activity at different spatial scales, and charcoal morphotypes representing different types of fuel. We found that small (125–250 μm) and large (250 μm–1 mm) particles of charcoal are well-correlated (Spearman correlation = 0.88) and likely reflect the same spatial scale of fire activity in a system with both herbaceous and woody fuels. There was no significant relationship between charcoal pieces and fire parameters <500 m from the traps. Moreover, local area burned (<5 km distance radius from traps) explained the total charcoal amount, and regional burning (200 km radius distance from traps) explained the ratio of non arboreal to total charcoal (NA/T ratio). Charcoal variables, including total charcoal count and NA/T ratio, did not correlate with other fire parameters, vegetation cover, landscape, or climate variables. Thus, in long-term studies that involve fire history reconstructions, total charcoal particles, even of a small size (125–250 μm), could be an indicator of local area burned. Further studies may determine relationships among amount of charcoal recorded, fire intensity, vegetation cover, and climatic parameters.

1 aLeys, érangère1 aBrewer, Simon, C1 aMcConaghy, Scott1 aMueller, Joshua1 aMcLauchlan, K.K. uhttp://stacks.iop.org/1748-9326/10/i=11/a=114009?key=crossref.eab0dcb3387227bddddc42e90e62a21d02223nas a2200253 4500008004100000022001400041245009500055210006900150260001600219300001400235490000600249520143500255653002001690653002801710653002801738100001801766700002401784700002301808700002601831700001501857700002001872700002401892856005301916 2015 eng d a1752-089400aFormation of soil organic matter via biochemical and physical pathways of litter mass loss0 aFormation of soil organic matter via biochemical and physical pa cJul-09-2015 a776 - 7790 v83 aSoil organic matter is the largest terrestrial carbon pool1. The pool size depends on the balance between formation of soil organic matter from decomposition of plant litter and its mineralization to inorganic carbon. Knowledge of soil organic matter formation remains limited2 and current C numerical models assume that stable soil organic matter is formed primarily from recalcitrant plant litter3. However, labile components of plant litter could also form mineral-stabilized soil organic matter4. Here we followed the decomposition of isotopically labelled above-ground litter and its incorporation into soil organic matter over three years in a grassland in Kansas, USA, and used laboratory incubations to determine the decay rates and pool structure of litter-derived organic matter. Early in decomposition, soil organic matter formed when non-structural compounds were lost from litter. Soil organic matter also formed at the end of decomposition, when both non-structural and structural compounds were lost at similar rates. We conclude that two pathways yield soil organic matter efficiently. A dissolved organic matter–microbial path occurs early in decomposition when litter loses mostly non-structural compounds, which are incorporated into microbial biomass at high rates, resulting in efficient soil organic matter formation. An equally efficient physical-transfer path occurs when litter fragments move into soil.10aBiogeochemistry10aEnvironmental chemistry10aStable isotope analysis1 aCotrufo, M.F.1 aSoong, Jennifer, L.1 aHorton, Andrew, J.1 aCampbell, Eleanor, E.1 aHaddix, L.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aParton, William, J. uhttp://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/ngeo252002932nas a2200157 4500008004100000245016400041210006900205300001300274490000800287520232900295653001402624100002002638700001902658700001602677856008102693 2015 eng d00aFunctional differences between dominant grasses drive divergent responses to large herbivore loss in mesic savanna grasslands of North America and South Africa0 aFunctional differences between dominant grasses drive divergent  a714 -7240 v1033 a

Grazing and fire are disturbances integral to the evolution and maintenance of savanna grasslands. Humans are altering or completely eliminating these disturbance regimes at a global scale, with important consequences for savanna ecosystem structure and function. It is unknown whether the alteration of these disturbance regimes will have similar effects on grass communities of savanna grasslands in different geographic regions that vary in their biogeographic and evolutionary histories, as well as in the diversity of extant grazers. Here, we examined the effects of large herbivore loss on different aspects of grass community structure – taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional – across a range of fire frequencies in C4-dominated mesic savanna grassland sites of North America (Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas, USA) and South Africa (Kruger National Park). The goal of the study was to determine whether the loss of large herbivores exerted a consistent effect on the grass communities of two physiognomically similar grasslands with different biogeographic and grazing histories. The removal of large herbivores resulted in divergent responses in the grass communities at Konza and Kruger that was consistent across fire treatments. At Konza, there was a rapid and significant response to grazing exclusion while the response was muted and transient at Kruger. Functional syndromes associated with grazing resistance were generally conserved across sites, and it was the functional strategies of the dominant species at each site that drove the divergent responses. Further, our study supports the hypothesis that grazing and aridity may be selective forces that act in parallel as those species that were grazing resistant also occupied drier niches. Synthesis. Our study demonstrates that savanna grassland communities with different biogeographic and grazing histories respond differently to the removal of large herbivores and that climate, fire and grazing are interactive forces in maintaining savanna grassland diversity and function. We show that the functional attributes of the dominant grasses, which are in part driven by the biogeographic and grazing history experienced, are the most relevant in predicting the response of savanna ecosystems to the loss of large herbivores.

10aphylogeny1 aForrestel, E.J.1 aDonoghue, M.J.1 aSmith, M.D. uhttps://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2745.1237602294nas a2200205 4500008004100000245010400041210006900145300001300214490000800227520162100235653002101856653001701877653002101894653002201915653001901937653002201956100002801978700001602006856006602022 2015 eng d00aFunctional trait expression of grassland species shift with short- and long-term nutrient additions0 aFunctional trait expression of grassland species shift with shor a307 -3180 v2163 a

Humans are altering nutrient availability worldwide, likely affecting plant trait expression, with consequences for community composition and ecosystem function. Here, we examined the responses of plant species dominant under ambient nutrient conditions (baseline species) versus those that become dominant under increased nutrient conditions (enriched species) in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The expression of 8 functional traits was quantified for 3 baseline and 3 enriched species within one short-term and one long-term nutrient addition experiment. We found that enriched species occupied a trait space characterized by traits that generally correspond with faster growth rates than baseline species. Additionally, the enriched species shifted in their trait expression relative to the control more than the baseline species with nutrient additions, particularly within the long-term experiment. The trait space shifts of individual species with nutrient additions scaled up to affect community aggregate trait values within both experiments. However, traits that responded to nutrient additions at the community level were not strong predictors of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) within the short-term experiment. In contrast, in the long-term experiment, one response trait (community aggregate height) strongly correlated with variation in ANPP with nutrient additions. The link between plant functional traits and community and ecosystem responses to chronic nutrient additions shown here will provide important insight into key mechanisms driving grassland responses to global change.

10aBaseline species10aEffect trait10aEnriched species10aNutrient addition10aResponse trait10atallgrass prairie1 aLa Pierre, Kimberly, J.1 aSmith, M.D. uhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11258-014-0438-402156nas a2200205 4500008004100000245011400041210006900155300001400224490000800238520148900246653001001735653001701745653001701762653001201779653002101791100001901812700001801831700001801849856008301867 2015 eng d00aFundamental spatial and temporal disconnections in the hydrology of an intermittent prairie headwater network0 aFundamental spatial and temporal disconnections in the hydrology a305 - 3160 v5223 a

We characterize the hydrology of intermittent prairie headwater streams of the Konza Prairie Biological Station (Konza) located in northeastern Kansas, USA. Flow records from four gaging stations were used to quantify flow intermittence and mean and peak annual discharges. Gage sites used in this analysis are classified as harshly intermittent with all sites having over 90 days of zero-flow annually. The largest basin had the fewest zero-flow days and the shortest durations of zero-flow while the smallest basin had the most zero-flow days and the highest frequency zero-flow durations. There were strong correlations between total annual precipitation and the total number of zero-flow days and the number of zero-flow periods. Correlations were less strong between the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and the number of zero-flow days and between PDSI and the number of zero-flow periods. Basin-averaged total annual precipitation poorly predicted mean annual and peak annual discharges. Double mass plots of streamflow to precipitation and streamflow in the headwaters to the receiving stream demonstrate many instances of flow desynchronization. Results of this study suggest that local watershed-scale processes, such as groundwater storage in limestone and alluvial strata, dynamic infiltration flow paths, and soil moisture conditions, produce a threshold-driven hydrologic response, decoupling the headwater hydrologic regimes from sub-annual weather patterns.

10aFlood10aGreat Plains10aIntermittent10aprairie10aTemporary stream1 aCostigan, K.H.1 aDaniels, M.D.1 aDodds, W., K. uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169414010427?via%3Dihub02542nas a2200229 4500008004100000245009900041210006900140490001400209520182600223653001202049653002302061653002102084653001402105653001002119653002002129653002502149653001002174100001602184700001802200700001602218856007802234 2014 eng d00aFire and grazing influences on rates of riparian woody plant expansion along grassland streams0 aFire and grazing influences on rates of riparian woody plant exp0 v9:e1069223 a

Grasslands are threatened globally due to the expansion of woody plants. The few remaining headwater streams within tallgrass prairies are becoming more like typical forested streams due to rapid conversion of riparian zones from grassy to wooded. Forestation can alter stream hydrology and biogeochemistry. We estimated the rate of riparian woody plant expansion within a 30 m buffer zone surrounding the stream bed across whole watersheds at Konza Prairie Biological Station over 25 years from aerial photographs. Watersheds varied with respect to experimentally-controlled fire and bison grazing. Fire frequency, presence or absence of grazing bison, and the historical presence of woody vegetation prior to the study time period (a proxy for proximity of propagule sources) were used as independent variables to predict the rate of riparian woody plant expansion between 1985 and 2010. Water yield was estimated across these years for a subset of watersheds. Riparian woody encroachment rates increased as burning became less frequent than every two years. However, a higher fire frequency (1–2 years) did not reverse riparian woody encroachment regardless of whether woody vegetation was present or not before burning regimes were initiated. Although riparian woody vegetation cover increased over time, annual total precipitation and average annual temperature were variable. So, water yield over 4 watersheds under differing burn frequencies was quite variable and with no statistically significant detected temporal trends. Overall, burning regimes with a frequency of every 1–2 years will slow the conversion of tallgrass prairie stream ecosystems to forested ones, yet over long time periods, riparian woody plant encroachment may not be prevented by fire alone, regardless of fire frequency.

10aAnthrax10aBacillus anthracis10aBacterial spores10aCytokines10aEdema10aImmune response10aInnate immune system10aLungs1 aVeach, A.M.1 aDodds, W., K.1 aSkibbee, A. uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.010692202633nas a2200253 4500008004100000245013900041210006900180300001500249490000800264520182600272653001002098653001502108653001202123653001502135653001202150653003102162653001002193653001502203100001802218700002302236700001902259700002002278856008102298 2014 eng d00aFire dynamics distinguish grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands as alternative attractors in the Central Great Plains of North America0 aFire dynamics distinguish grasslands shrublands and woodlands as a1374 -13850 v1023 a

Grasslands are threatened globally due to the expansion of woody plants. The few remaining headwater streams within tallgrass prairies are becoming more like typical forested streams due to rapid conversion of riparian zones from grassy to wooded. Forestation can alter stream hydrology and biogeochemistry. We estimated the rate of riparian woody plant expansion within a 30 m buffer zone surrounding the stream bed across whole watersheds at Konza Prairie Biological Station over 25 years from aerial photographs. Watersheds varied with respect to experimentally-controlled fire and bison grazing. Fire frequency, presence or absence of grazing bison, and the historical presence of woody vegetation prior to the study time period (a proxy for proximity of propagule sources) were used as independent variables to predict the rate of riparian woody plant expansion between 1985 and 2010. Water yield was estimated across these years for a subset of watersheds. Riparian woody encroachment rates increased as burning became less frequent than every two years. However, a higher fire frequency (1–2 years) did not reverse riparian woody encroachment regardless of whether woody vegetation was present or not before burning regimes were initiated. Although riparian woody vegetation cover increased over time, annual total precipitation and average annual temperature were variable. So, water yield over 4 watersheds under differing burn frequencies was quite variable and with no statistically significant detected temporal trends. Overall, burning regimes with a frequency of every 1–2 years will slow the conversion of tallgrass prairie stream ecosystems to forested ones, yet over long time periods, riparian woody plant encroachment may not be prevented by fire alone, regardless of fire frequency.

10abison10aEcosystems10aForests10aGrasslands10aGrazing10aLinear regression analysis10aTrees10aWatersheds1 aRatajczak, Z.1 aNippert, Jesse, B.1 aBriggs, J., M.1 aBlair, John, M. uhttps://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2745.1231102416nas a2200229 4500008004100000245011600041210006900157300001300226490000800239520172000247653002401967653001201991653001402003653002402017653001602041100001702057700001502074700001802089700001502107700001602122856004802138 2014 eng d00aFitness among population sources of a dominant species (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) used in prairie restoration0 aFitness among population sources of a dominant species Andropogo a269 -2790 v1403 a

Planting native grasses can provide a source of seed for prairie restorations, but requires knowledge of how the plants that establish will perform. This study sought to determine variation in fitness of population sources of Andropogon gerardii, a dominant grassland species, when grown in a mesic common garden. Using multiple population sources, we tested the hypothesis that plants from populations within the local region would exhibit a ‘home-site advantage’ as measured by higher fitness compared to plants from populations collected from drier regions of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem (up to 986 km west of the common garden). Plants collected from four pristine, never restored population sources from each of three regions (central Kansas, eastern Kansas, and southern Illinois) were raised in the greenhouse from seeds and planted in a common garden in Illinois. To estimate fitness, we used commonly measured traits related to seed production, including flowering tiller number and number of flowering raceme branches, seed number, viability, and percentage germination. There was no evidence of a ‘home-site advantage’ for populations originating from southern Illinois. Rather, there was high within-region variability in fecundity. Plants from southern Illinois had the largest number of raceme branches per plant. Plants from eastern Kansas had the highest number of vegetative tillers per plant. Plants from central Kansas produced the most germinable seeds. Under the current climate, plants from any one of the three regions may be suitable to propagate seeds for restoration, but other traits may vary among populations to affect height, cover, and productivity.

10aAndropogon gerardii10afitness10agrassland10areproductive effort10arestoration1 aGibson, D.J.1 aSendor, G.1 aDonatelli, J.1 aBaer, S.G.1 aJohnson, L. uhttps://doi.org/10.3159/TORREY-D-12-00063.101833nas a2200253 4500008004100000245012200041210006900163490001300232520105900245100001601304700001401320700001601334700001201350700001901362700001601381700002001397700001701417700001801434700001501452700001501467700001901482700001801501856006001519 2014 eng d00aFOAM: Functional Ontology Assignments for Metagenomes: a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) database with environmental focus0 aFOAM Functional Ontology Assignments for Metagenomes a Hidden Ma0 v42: e1453 a

A new functional gene database, FOAM (Functional Ontology Assignments for Metagenomes), was developed to screen environmental metagenomic sequence datasets. FOAM provides a new functional ontology dedicated to classify gene functions relevant to environmental microorganisms based on Hidden Markov Models (HMMs). Sets of aligned protein sequences (i.e. ‘profiles’) were tailored to a large group of target KEGG Orthologs (KOs) from which HMMs were trained. The alignments were checked and curated to make them specific to the targeted KO. Within this process, sequence profiles were enriched with the most abundant sequences available to maximize the yield of accurate classifier models. An associated functional ontology was built to describe the functional groups and hierarchy. FOAM allows the user to select the target search space before HMM-based comparison steps and to easily organize the results into different functional categories and subcategories. FOAM is publicly available at http://portal.nersc.gov/project/m1317/FOAM/.

1 aPrestat, E.1 aDavid, M.1 aHultman, J.1 aTas, N.1 aLamendella, R.1 aDvornik, J.1 aMackelprang, R.1 aMyrold, D.D.1 aJumpponen, A.1 aTringe, S.1 aHolman, E.1 aMavromatis, K.1 aJansson, J.K. uhttps://academic.oup.com/nar/article/42/19/e145/290247900793nas a2200241 4500008004100000245009700041210006900138300001000207490000800217100001800225700002200243700001400265700001600279700001400295700001600309700001700325700001600342700001600358700001700374700001500391700001700406856012800423 2013 eng d00aFungal community responses to discrete precipitation pulses under altered rainfall intervals0 aFungal community responses to discrete precipitation pulses unde a182 -0 v1031 aJumpponen, A.1 aZeglin, Lydia, H.1 aDavid, M.1 aPrestat, E.1 aBrown, S.1 aDvornik, J.1 aLothamer, K.1 aHettich, R.1 aJansson, J.1 aRice, C., W.1 aTringe, S.1 aMyrold, D.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fungal-community-responses-discrete-precipitation-pulses-under-altered-rainfall-intervals01807nas a2200157 4500008004100000245006900041210006900110300001300179490000800192520129700200100001701497700002001514700001601534700001701550856008201567 2012 eng d00aFlowering phenology as a functional trait in a tallgrass prairie0 aFlowering phenology as a functional trait in a tallgrass prairie a673 -6820 v1933 a

•The timing of flowering is a critical component of the ecology of plants and has the potential to structure plant communities. Yet, we know little about how the timing of flowering relates to other functional traits, species abundance, and average environmental conditions. •Here, we assessed first flowering dates (FFDs) in a North American tallgrass prairie (Konza Prairie) for 431 herbaceous species and compared them with a series of other functional traits, environmental metrics, and species abundance across ecological contrasts. •The pattern of FFDs among the species of the Konza grassland was shaped by local climate, can be linked to resource use by species, and patterns of species abundance across the landscape. Peak FFD for the community occurred when soils were typically both warm and wet, while relatively few species began flowering when soils tended to be the driest. Compared with late-flowering species, species that flowered early had lower leaf tissue density and were more abundant on uplands than lowlands. •Flowering phenology can contribute to the structuring of grassland communities, but was largely independent of most functional traits. Therefore, selection for flowering phenology may be independent of general resource strategies.

1 aCraine, J.M.1 aWolkovich, E.M.1 aTowne, E.G.1 aKembel, S.W. uhttps://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03953.x03329nas a2200193 4500008004100000245008200041210006900123300001500192490000800207520270900215653000902924653002002933653002302953653001902976653001802995100002003013700001903033856008303052 2011 eng d00aFire resistance of tree species explains gallery forest community composition0 aFire resistance of tree species explains gallery forest communit a1530 -15380 v2613 a

Fire, climatic variability, and grazing by large herbivores have historically limited woody vegetation in the tallgrass prairie region of North America to gallery forests in protected areas along rivers and streams. Fire, in particular, has been a strong selective pressure against woody vegetation. Consequently, we expect that dominant tree species in these forests have developed mechanisms for tolerating periodic surface fires. Susceptibility of trees to fire damage depends in part on key properties of bark which influence heat transfer to the vascular cambium, including thickness, density, and moisture content. An historical (1983) survey of Konza Prairie Biological Station in northeast Kansas, USA indicated that gallery forests were co-dominated by Quercus macrocarpa and Quercus muehlenbergii, while Celtis occidentalis occurred as an important sub-dominant species. Populus deltoides, Gleditsia triacanthos, and Juniperus virginiana were relatively uncommon. To test the hypothesis that historically dominant gallery forest tree species are more resistant to fire damage than uncommon species, fire was applied to the bark of 10 individuals of each of these six species under conditions mimicking surface fires (400 °C for 120 s). Maximum temperature at the vascular cambium, bark thickness, bark moisture content, and bark density were measured. Trees were considered fire-resistant if the vascular cambium temperature remained below the thermal cell death threshold, 60 °C, throughout the treatment. Using logistic regression, bark thickness was found to be a significant predictor of lethal cambium temperatures (P = 0.002), while neither bark density nor moisture content were significantly related to lethal cambium temperature (P = 0.279 and P = 0.131, respectively). Across species, a minimum bark thickness of approximately 8.6 mm was necessary to maintain the vascular cambium temperature below 60 °C. Trees that produce thick bark quickly in juvenile size classes (P. deltoides, Q. macrocarpa, and Q. muehlenbergii) experienced lower temperatures at the vascular cambium than those which do not develop thick bark with increasing diameter (C. occidentalis, G. triacanthos, and J. virginiana). Ranking these tree species by either the DBH or age needed to develop the minimum protective bark thickness largely agreed with ranking based on historical relative importance. As fire frequency and intensity decrease in remnant tallgrass prairie of North America as a result of habitat fragmentation, fire suppression, and changing land management, fire-sensitive species may increase in relative importance in gallery forests because of increased juvenile survival.

10aBark10aFire resistance10aForest composition10agallery forest10aKonza Prairie1 aVanderweide, B.1 aHartnett, D.C. uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112711000764?via%3Dihub02698nas a2200181 4500008004100000245014700041210006900188300001500257490000700272520207300279100001802352700001302370700001602383700002202399700002302421700001602444856005602460 2011 eng d00aFrom precipitation to groundwater baseflow in a native prairie ecosystem: a regional study of the Konza LTER in the Flint Hills of Kansas, USA0 aFrom precipitation to groundwater baseflow in a native prairie e a3181 -31940 v153 a

Methods are developed to study hydrologic interactions across the surficial/groundwater interface in a native prairie ecosystem. Surficial ecohydrologic processes are simulated with the USDA's EPIC model using daily climate data from the Kansas Weather Data Library, vegetation and soil data from the USDA, and current land-use management practices. Results show that mean annual precipitation (from 1985–2005) is partitioned into 13% runoff regionally and 14% locally over the Konza LTER, lateral flow through soil is 1% regionally and 2% locally, groundwater recharge is 11% regionally and 9% locally, and evapotranspiration accounts for the remaining 75%. The spatial distribution of recharge was used in a regional Modflow groundwater model that was calibrated to existing groundwater observations and field measurements gathered for this study, giving a hydraulic conductivity in the Flint Hills region of 1–2 m day−1 with a local zone (identified here) of 0.05–0.1 m day−1. The resistance was set to fixed representative values during model calibration of hydraulic conductivity, and simple log-log relations correlate the enhanced recharge beneath ephemeral upland streams and baseflow in perennial lowland streams to the unknown resistance of the streambeds. Enhanced recharge due to stream transmission loss (the difference between terrestrial runoff and streamflow) represents a small fraction of streamflow in the ephemeral upland and the resistance of this streambed is 100 000 day. Long-term baseflow in the local Kings Creek watershed (2% of the groundwater recharge over the watershed) is met when the resistance of the lowland streambed is 1000 day. The coupled framework developed here to study surficial ecohydrological processes using EPIC and groundwater hydrogeological processes using Modflow provides a baseline hydrologic assessment and a computational platform for future investigations to examine the impacts of climate change, vegetative cover, soils, and management practices on hydrologic forcings.

1 aSteward, D.R.1 aYang, X.1 aLauwo, S.Y.1 aStaggenborg, S.A.1 aMacpherson, G., L.1 aWelch, S.M. uhttps://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/15/3181/2011/02524nas a2200253 4500008004100000245009600041210006900137300001500206490000800221520175800229653001701987653001902004653002202023653001502045653001802060100001702078700002302095700001602118700001502134700001702149700001702166700002102183856006602204 2011 eng d00aFunctional consequences of climate-change induced plant species loss in a tallgrass prairie0 aFunctional consequences of climatechange induced plant species l a1109 -11170 v1653 a

Future climate change is likely to reduce the floristic diversity of grasslands. Yet the potential consequences of climate-induced plant species losses for the functioning of these ecosystems are poorly understood. We investigated how climate change might alter the functional composition of grasslands for Konza Prairie, a diverse tallgrass prairie in central North America. With species-specific climate envelopes, we show that a reduction in mean annual precipitation would preferentially remove species that are more abundant in the more productive lowland positions at Konza. As such, decreases in precipitation could reduce productivity not only by reducing water availability but by also removing species that inhabit the most productive areas and respond the most to climate variability. In support of this prediction, data on species abundance at Konza over 16 years show that species that are more abundant in lowlands than uplands are preferentially reduced in years with low precipitation. Climate change is likely to also preferentially remove species from particular functional groups and clades. For example, warming is forecast to preferentially remove perennials over annuals as well as Cyperaceae species. Despite these predictions, climate change is unlikely to unilaterally alter the functional composition of the tallgrass prairie flora, as many functional traits such as physiological drought tolerance and maximum photosynthetic rates showed little relationship with climate envelope parameters. In all, although climatic drying would indirectly alter grassland productivity through species loss patterns, the insurance afforded by biodiversity to ecosystem function is likely to be sustained in the face of climate change.

10abiogeography10aClimate change10aFunctional traits10aGrasslands10aKonza Prairie1 aCraine, J.M.1 aNippert, Jesse, B.1 aTowne, E.G.1 aTucker, S.1 aKembel, S.W.1 aSkibbe, A.M.1 aMcLauchlan, K.K. uhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00442-011-1938-803104nas a2200205 4500008004100000245006700041210006700108260004300175490001400218520247600232653001702708653002002725653002302745653001302768653002002781653002302801100002002824700001802844856003602862 2010 eng d00aFactors affecting denitrification in headwater prairie streams0 aFactors affecting denitrification in headwater prairie streams aManhattan, KSbKansas State University0 vMS Thesis3 a

Human-induced stressors such as increased nitrogen (N) loadings, altered watershed land-use, and biodiversity losses are a few of the numerous threats to aquatic systems. Prairie streams experience natural disturbances, such as flooding and desiccation, which may alter responses to anthropogenic stressors. Denitrification, the dissimilatory reduction of NO3- to N gas (N2O or N2), is the only permanent form of N removal from terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems, and is important in mitigating N pollution to streams and downstream waters. Little is known about the relationships between denitrification and riparian prairie vegetation or large consumers. In the first chapter, I used outdoor mesocosms to determine the impact of a grazing minnow, Campostoma anomalum, on structural and functional responses of prairie streams to a simulated flood, focusing on denitrification. In terrestrial ecosystems, grazing can stimulate denitrification, but this has not been studied in streams. Ammonium (NH4+) enrichments, used to simulate fish excretion, alleviated N limitations on denitrification. Both fish and NH4+ affected algal biomass accrual, but only fish affected algal filament lengths and particulate organic matter. In a second experiment, I examined the impact of woody vegetation expansion, a primary threat to tallgrass prairie, on riparian and benthic denitrification. Expansion of woody vegetation in these grasslands is due primarily to altered fire regimes, which historically inhibited woody vegetation growth. To determine the effect of woody vegetation expansion on benthic and riparian denitrification, woody vegetation was removed from the riparian zone of a grazed and an ungrazed watershed. Both soil and benthic denitrification rates from this removal buffer were compared to rates in grassy or woody riparian zones. Riparian soil denitrification was highly seasonal, with greatest rates occurring during early spring, and rates being low throughout the remainder of the year. Benthic denitrification was also temporally variable but did not exhibit seasonal trends, suggesting benthic denitrification is driven by factors other than water temperature. Removal of woody vegetation stimulated soil and benthic denitrification rates over rates found in naturally vegetated riparian zones. Elevated N loadings will continue to affect aquatic ecosystems, and these effects may be exacerbated by biodiversity losses or changing riparian vegetation.

10aBiodiversity10adenitrification10aEcosystem recovery10anitrogen10aprairie streams10awoody encroachment1 aReisinger, A.J.1 aDodds, W., K. uhttp://hdl.handle.net/2097/427302698nas a2200241 4500008004100000245009200041210006900133300001300202490000700215520193900222653002002161653003002181653003202211653002302243100001702266700002002283700001702303700001802320700001602338700002002354700001602374856006602390 2010 eng d00aFire and grazing impacts on silica production and storage in grass dominated ecosystems0 aFire and grazing impacts on silica production and storage in gra a263 -2780 v973 a

Grassland ecosystems are an important terrestrial component of the global biogeochemical silicon cycle. Although the structure and ecological functioning of grasslands are strongly influenced by fire and grazing, the role of these key ecological drivers in the production and storage of silicon represents a significant knowledge gap, particularly since they are being altered worldwide by human activities. We evaluated the effects of fire and grazing on the range and variability of plant derived biogenic silica stored in plant biomass and soils by sampling plants and soils from long-term experimental plots with known fire and grazing histories. Overall, plants and soils from grazed sites in the South African ecosystems had up to 76 and 54% greater biogenic silica totals (kg ha−1), respectively, than grazed North American sites. In North American soils, the combination of grazing and annual fire resulted in the greatest abundance of biogenic silica, whereas South African soils had the highest biogenic silica content where grazed regardless of burn frequency. These results as well as those that show greater Si concentrations in grazed South African plants indicate that South African plants and soils responded somewhat differently to fire and grazing with respect to silicon cycling, which may be linked to differences in the evolutionary history and in the grazer diversity and grazing intensity of these ecosystems. We conclude that although fire and grazing (as interactive and/or independent factors) do not affect the concentration of Si taken up by plants, they do promote increased silicon storage in aboveground biomass and soil as a result of directly affecting other site factors such as aboveground net primary productivity. Therefore, as management practices, fire and grazing have important implications for assessing global change impacts on the terrestrial biogeochemical cycling of silicon.

10aBiogenic silica10aNorth American grasslands10aSoil South African savannas10aTerrestrial plants1 aMelzer, S.E.1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aFynn, R.W.S.1 aKirkman, K.P.1 aSmith, M.D.1 aBlair, John, M.1 aKelly, E.F. uhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10533-009-9371-302826nas a2200193 4500008004100000245009900041210006900140300001500209490000700224520219200231100002102423700001702444700001502461700002002476700002002496700001802516700002402534856007402558 2010 eng d00aFire and grazing in a mesic tallgrass prairie: impacts on plant species and functional traits0 aFire and grazing in a mesic tallgrass prairie impacts on plant s a1651 -16590 v913 a

Fire is a globally distributed disturbance that impacts terrestrial ecosystems and has been proposed to be a global “herbivore.” Fire, like herbivory, is a top-down driver that converts organic materials into inorganic products, alters community structure, and acts as an evolutionary agent. Though grazing and fire may have some comparable effects in grasslands, they do not have similar impacts on species composition and community structure. However, the concept of fire as a global herbivore implies that fire and herbivory may have similar effects on plant functional traits. Using 22 years of data from a mesic, native tallgrass prairie with a long evolutionary history of fire and grazing, we tested if trait composition between grazed and burned grassland communities would converge, and if the degree of convergence depended on fire frequency. Additionally, we tested if eliminating fire from frequently burned grasslands would result in a state similar to unburned grasslands, and if adding fire into a previously unburned grassland would cause composition to become more similar to that of frequently burned grasslands. We found that grazing and burning once every four years showed the most convergence in traits, suggesting that these communities operate under similar deterministic assembly rules and that fire and herbivory are similar disturbances to grasslands at the trait-group level of organization. Three years after reversal of the fire treatment we found that fire reversal had different effects depending on treatment. The formerly unburned community that was then burned annually became more similar to the annually burned community in trait composition suggesting that function may be rapidly restored if fire is reintroduced. Conversely, after fire was removed from the annually burned community trait composition developed along a unique trajectory indicating hysteresis, or a time lag for structure and function to return following a change in this disturbance regime. We conclude that functional traits and species-based metrics should be considered when determining and evaluating goals for fire management in mesic grassland ecosystems.

1 aSpasojevic, M.J.1 aAicher, R.J.1 aKoch, G.R.1 aMarquardt, E.S.1 aMirotchnick, N.1 aTroxler, T.G.1 aCollins, Scott., L. uhttps://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1890/09-0431.102353nas a2200145 4500008004100000245011800041210006900159300001500228490000700243520182300250100001602073700002002089700002402109856007402133 2009 eng d00aA framework for assessing ecosystem dynamics in response to chronic resource alterations induced by global change0 aframework for assessing ecosystem dynamics in response to chroni a3279 -32890 v903 a

In contrast to pulses in resource availability following disturbance events, many of the most pressing global changes, such as elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and nitrogen deposition, lead to chronic and often cumulative alterations in available resources. Therefore, predicting ecological responses to these chronic resource alterations will require the modification of existing disturbance-based frameworks. Here, we present a conceptual framework for assessing the nature and pace of ecological change under chronic resource alterations. The “hierarchical-response framework” (HRF) links well-documented, ecological mechanisms of change to provide a theoretical basis for testing hypotheses to explain the dynamics and differential sensitivity of ecosystems to chronic resource alterations. The HRF is based on a temporal hierarchy of mechanisms and responses beginning with individual (physiological/metabolic) responses, followed by species reordering within communities, and finally species loss and immigration. Each mechanism is hypothesized to differ in the magnitude and rate of its effects on ecosystem structure and function, with this variation depending on ecosystem attributes, such as longevity of dominant species, rates of biogeochemical cycling, levels of biodiversity, and trophic complexity. Overall, the HRF predicts nonlinear changes in ecosystem dynamics, with the expectation that interactions with natural disturbances and other global-change drivers will further alter the nature and pace of change. The HRF is explicitly comparative to better understand differential sensitivities of ecosystems, and it can be used to guide the design of coordinated, cross-site experiments to enable more robust forecasts of contemporary and future ecosystem dynamics.

1 aSmith, M.D.1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aCollins, Scott., L. uhttps://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1890/08-1815.103386nas a2200133 4500008004100000245010200041210006900143260004300212300001000255490001400265520290600279100001603185856005103201 2008 eng d00aFine-scale genetic structure and extra-pair parentage in the socially monogamous Upland Sandpiper0 aFinescale genetic structure and extrapair parentage in the socia aManhattan, KSbKansas State University a1 -560 vMS Thesis3 a

In birds, the offspring of females in socially monogamous species can be sired not only by their social partner (within-pair mating) but also by other males (extra-pair mating), resulting in broods of mixed paternity. Several hypotheses have been proposed which attempt to explain the adaptive significance of this behavior, including the genetic diversity hypothesis, the good genes hypothesis, the genetic compatibility hypothesis and the fertility insurance hypothesis. I report results of a 5 year population study of the Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) at Konza Prairie Biological Station in northeast Kansas. My objective was to determine the genetic mating system of this socially monogamous shorebird, and determine which of the genetic hypotheses best explains the patterns of extra-pair paternity (EPP) in the population. As part of the analysis, I optimized laboratory protocols for genetic sexing of our monomorphic study species. Potential errors in molecular sexing have been previously described but usually result in females being misidentified as males. Here, I report evidence that events in PCR reactions can lead to the opposite error, with males misidentified as females. I recommend the use of multiple primer sets and large samples of known-sex birds for validation when designing protocols for molecular sex analysis. I genotyped birds and tested for the existence of EPP in 58 family groups of Upland Sandpipers. I found 15% of chicks and 30% of broods were the result of extra-pair paternity in this population, which is high in comparison to other socially monogamous shorebirds. Only 2% of chicks and 2% of broods were attended by females unrelated to the young. I tested ecological covariates known to influence EPP in other birds including relatedness of mated pairs, morphology of the within-pair male, and nest initiation date, as well as variables which signify genetic benefits, including morphology of the offspring and offspring heterozygosity, but found no significant relationships. None of the prevailing genetic hypotheses can fully explain the high rates of EPP in this population of Upland Sandpipers. However, the discovery of fine-scale genetic structure in female birds, but not in males, suggests female natal philopatry or malebiased dispersal. This sex-specific genetic structure could be a mechanism of inbreeding avoidance, thereby eliminating the need for females to choose mates based on relatedness. This study provides the first estimates of EPP for the socially monogamous Upland Sandpiper, and provides evidence that the inbreeding avoidance mechanism of engaging in extrapair copulations does not seem to be as important in Upland Sandpipers as in other socially monogamous shorebirds. Future research should include the identification of extra-pair males and the determination of offspring fitness after departure from the nest.

1 aCasey, A.E. uhttps://www.k-state.edu/bsanderc/2008casey.pdf03134nas a2200205 4500008004100000245009200041210006900133260004300202490002100245520248300266653002302749653001102772653001702783653002502800653002102825653001302846653001702859100001702876856003502893 2007 eng d00aFactors affecting reproductive success in a lek-matingbird: the Greater Prairie-chicken0 aFactors affecting reproductive success in a lekmatingbird the Gr aManhattan, KSbKansas State University0 vPhD Dissertation3 a

Sexual selection via female choice and male-male aggression leads to elaboration of male traits. If male traits correlated with reproductive success are honest signals of male quality, survival costs may be associated with the expression of those traits. Testosterone (hereafter ‘T’) may enhance male breeding success, but T can also reduce immunocompetence and survival. Socially monogamous male birds with higher circulating T experience reproductive advantages, but the role of T in lek mating systems is largely unknown. To address these issues, I individually marked and conducted focal behavioral observations of greater prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) at five lek sites over a 5-year period. Females were fitted with radio-telemetry to monitor nesting success and survival. I examined the relationship between male traits and mating success using multinomial discrete choice models, a statistical method not previously applied to studies of sexual selection. Male mating success was highly skewed at greater prairie-chicken leks with 18.5% of males obtaining 87.2% of all successful copulations (n = 108 males; 85 copulations). Mating success was influenced most by male behavior, followed by several morphological attributes. The role of T was quantified using blood samples and by experimentally implanting a subset of males with T. T did not consistently affect mating success. Non-territorial males had lower T levels than territorial males. Among territory holders, T was unexpectedly negatively correlated with mating success. However, the odds of receiving a copulation were 4.3 times (0.42 to 45.3) greater for T-implanted males than males with sham implants. Future work should explore the interactions among the immune system, parasite load, and mating success of prairie-chickens. Annual survival of male prairie-chickens was not related to mating success, behavior, age or T level, suggesting there is no cost of increased male mating success. Like males, reproductive success of females was also highly skewed because < 10% of nests successfully hatched young. Comparisons of seasonal and annual survival rates indicate that females experience increased mortality during the breeding season relative to the nonbreeding season. Synthesis of field estimates of demographic parameters indicates prairie-chicken populations will decline without changes in rangeland management to reduce predator numbers or provide more nesting cover.

10aFemale mate choice10aGrouse10aNest success10aReproductive success10aSexual selection10asurvival10aTestosterone1 aNooker, J.K. uhttp://hdl.handle.net/2097/37502841nas a2200145 4500008004100000245012700041210006900168260006100237300001100298520225200309100001802561700002002579700001902599856007702618 2007 eng d00aFire and resource availability influence carbon and water relations of the C3 shrub Cornus drummondii in a mesic grassland0 aFire and resource availability influence carbon and water relati aTall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, Florida, USA a86 -933 a

A dramatic increase in cover by woody vegetation has been observed in grasslands worldwide, due to independent and interacting global changes. In the C4-dominated mesic tallgrass prairie of North America, the most proximate factor driving this shift in growth-form dominance is fire exclusion. In 2001, we reintroduced annual fire into a C4-dominated mesic grassland where it had been excluded for 10 y, and evaluated changes in stem density and ecophysiology of an increasingly abundant C3 woody plant, roughleaf dogwood(Cornus drummondii). Our primary objective was to quantify the impacts of fire-induced aboveground mortality and resource constraints on the persistence of roughleaf dogwood in this ecosystem.

In both years of the study (2001–2002), burned shrubs suffered a complete loss of aboveground biomass due to top-kill from spring fire but persisted via resprouting. A considerable reduction in total growing-season precipitation in 2002, as compared to 2001, revealed that resprouts had lower mortality with reduced soil moisture, were less vulnerable to reductions in soil moisture availability, and maintained higher predawn xylem pressure potentials and rates of photosynthesis than did unburned shrubs. Additionally, enrich-ment of13Cleaf in burned shrubs in 2002 was indicative of greater water use efficiency of resprouting stems. During the drought that occurred in the second growing season, mortality of stems within unburned shrub islands increased and was nearly 9 times more than in burned shrub islands. Thus, resprouting shrubs—with their characteristics of reduced leaf tissue, taller stems, and greater stem densities—are efficient in rapidly reoccupying post-fire environments, even with the added stress of below-average precipitation during the growing season. The results of this study suggest that within this grassland, reintroduction of fire will not eliminate rough leaf dogwood in the short term because of its ability to resprout vigorously and persist, even under stressful moisture conditions. Given that North American grasslands are important both economically and ecologically, fire management plans should therefore emphasize frequent fire to prevent shrub establishment

1 aHeisler, J.L.1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aBriggs, J., M. uhttp://talltimbers.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Heisleretal2007_op.pdf02956nas a2200205 4500008004100000245006800041210006700109260004300176300001100219490002100230520232200251653001802573653002302591653002002614653001902634653002202653653001902675100001902694856003702713 2007 eng d00aFishes and floods: stream ecosystem drivers in the Great Plains0 aFishes and floods stream ecosystem drivers in the Great Plains aManhattan, KSbKansas State University a1 -1410 vPhD Dissertation3 a

Global climate change could lead to less frequent but more severe precipitation events in the Great Plains, altering the hydrologic regimes of streams. It is important to quantify species roles in these dynamic systems, because changes in stream communities are likely to accompany predicted changes in hydrology. The effects of species on ecosystem processes also are limited by the frequency of disturbance, because prairie streams are harsh, nonequilibrium systems characterized by a wide range of disturbances. In particular, frequent floods that reset the ecosystem to an early successional state can override the influence of consumer populations because the availability of resources is too unpredictable to maintain stable populations of those species or because species are absent following the flood. As flood frequency decreases, potential consumer effects may intensify. Using a combination of field and experimental stream mesocosm experiments, I (1) characterized the ecosystem effects of southern redbelly dace (Phoxinus erythrogaster), a grazing minnow, (2) tested the interactive effects of flood frequency and the presence of water column (red shiner; Cyprinella lutrensis) or grazing minnows (Phoxinus) on ecosystem processes, and (3) tested the effects of species loss from the grazer functional feeding group on stream ecosystem structure and function. I found that dace affected some aspects of ecosystem structure but not function, which suggested that grazer effects in prairie streams may not be consistent across taxa. In the context of flood frequency, both the water column omnivore and dace affected recovery of prairie stream primary producers following flooding disturbance by stimulating production, presumably through nutrient remineralization. However, some of these effects were transient or dependent on flood frequency, and my results indicate that consumer effects depend not only on environmental venue but also on the balance between consumptive losses and nutrient stimulation. In a comparison of the effects of removing different taxa from a grazer assemblage, the loss of crayfish, snails, or dace from a grazer assemblage did not differentially affect ecosystem processes, suggesting overlap in the ecosystem roles of these species in the context of this experiment.

10aBiodiversitym10aEcosystem function10aFlood frequency10aGrazing minnow10aOmnivorous minnow10aPrairie stream1 aBertrand, K.N. uhttp://hdl.handle.net/2097/297 02448nas a2200205 4500008004100000245009300041210006900134300001500203490000700218520174700225653001401972653001901986653001902005653002102024653002102045653002202066100001502088700001502103856012402118 2006 eng d00aFire frequency and mosaic burning effects on atallgrass prairie ground beetle assemblage0 aFire frequency and mosaic burning effects on atallgrass prairie  a2301 -23230 v153 aFire frequency has significant effects on the biota of tallgrass prairie, including mammals, vascular plants and birds. Recent concern has been expressed that widespread annual burning, sometimes in combination with heavy livestock grazing, negatively impacts the biota of remaining prairie remnants. A common management recommendation, intended to address this problem, is to create a landscape with a mosaic of different burn regimes. Pitfall trapping was used to investigate the impacts of fire pattern on the diversity and species composition of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) at Konza Prairie Biological Station in eastern Kansas, USA. Trapping was conducted over three seasons in landscape units burned on average every 1, 4, or 20 years, and in a fourth season across the available range of vegetative structure to assess the variability of the community within the study system. In the fifth season communities were also followed immediately after two fire events to detect within-season effects of fire and to study short-term patterns of post-disturbance community assembly. Fire frequency had comparatively minimal effects on ground beetle diversity measures, and most numerically common species were observed widely across habitat and management types. Fire frequency effects were manifested primarily in changes in abundance of common species. Colonization of burned areas apparently did not occur from juxtaposed non-burned areas, but from underground or from long distances. While these results suggest that widespread annual burning of tallgrass prairie remnants may not have dramatic effects on prairie ground beetles, we urge caution regarding the application of these results to other taxa within tallgrass prairie.10aCarabidae10aFire frequency10aGround beetles10aPitfall trapping10aSpecies richness10atallgrass prairie1 aCook, W.M.1 aHolt, R.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-frequency-and-mosaic-burning-effects-atallgrass-prairie-ground-beetle-assemblage02904nas a2200205 4500008004100000245010000041210006900141260004200210300001100252490002100263520226400284653003102548653001102579653001402590653001202604653001702616653001102633100001902644856003502663 2005 eng d00aFactors influencing nightly activity of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in tallgrass prairie0 aFactors influencing nightly activity of deer mice Peromyscus man aManhattan,KSbKansas State University a1 -2050 vPhD Dissertation3 a

Little is known about nightly activity patterns of nocturnal small mammals under natural conditions, and how these activity patterns might be affected by photoperiod, season, and sex, age, and reproductive status of individuals. The main objectives of this research were: 1) to find an appropriate method for marking individual deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) so that their activity could be monitored remotely; 2) to design a portable activity-monitoring system to investigate temporal patterns of shelter use by deer mice under natural conditions; 3) to determine the influence of environmental conditions such as photoperiod and season on nightly activity of deer mice; and 4) to compare effects of demographic or physiological factors such as sex, age, and reproductive status on nightly activity of deer mice at artificial burrows in tallgrass prairie. In general, commencement of activity was correlated positively with timing of sunset, and time of retirement to the burrow was correlated positively with sunrise. Among adults, males first emerged from the burrow earlier and made more trips of shorter duration in a night than did females, although total duration of trips was similar. Return visits and subsequent stays typically were shorter for males than females, but total time spent in the burrow and retirement time relative to sunrise were similar for both sexes. Young deer mice emerged significantly later, made more trips of shorter duration, spent less total time outside, and retired to their burrow earlier than adults. Reproductive females emerged later, made fewer trips of generally longer duration, and spent shorter total amounts of time away from the burrow each night than non-reproductive females. Return visits of reproductive females were of longer duration than non-reproductives, but total time spent inside and time of retirement for the night did not differ relative to reproductive status. From parturition through lactation, activity of females showed a number of directional trends. Results suggest that under natural conditions, activity patterns of deer mice are highly variable but responsive to both the changing physical environment and internal conditions related to sex-specific maximization of fitness.

10aActivity-monitoring system10akansas10aNocturnal10aPIT tag10areproduction10arodent1 aRehmeier, R.L. uhttp://hdl.handle.net/2097/13900504nas a2200133 4500008004100000245007900041210006900120300001100189490000700200100001900207700001800226700001800244856010800262 2005 eng d00aFactors influencing persistence of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus)0 aFactors influencing persistence of whitefooted mice Peromyscus l a29 -400 v371 aMcMillan, B.R.1 aKaufman, G.A.1 aKaufman, D.W. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/factors-influencing-persistence-white-footed-mice-peromyscus-leucopus01973nas a2200205 4500008004100000245009900041210006900140300001500209490000800224520126300232100001701495700002401512700001401536700001601550700001801566700001601584700002001600700001701620856013001637 2005 eng d00aFunctional and abundance based mechanisms explain diversity loss due to nitrogen fertilization0 aFunctional and abundance based mechanisms explain diversity loss a4387 -43920 v1023 aHuman activities have increased N availability dramatically in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Extensive research demonstrates that local plant species diversity generally declines in response to nutrient enrichment, yet the mechanisms for this decline remain unclear. Based on an analysis of >900 species responses from 34 N-fertilization experiments across nine terrestrial ecosystems in North America, we show that both trait-neutral and trait-based mechanisms operate simultaneously to influence diversity loss as production increases. Rare species were often lost because of soil fertilization, randomly with respect to traits. The risk of species loss due to fertilization ranged from >60% for the rarest species to 10% for the most abundant species. Perennials, species with N-fixing symbionts, and those of native origin also experienced increased risk of local extinction after fertilization, regardless of their initial abundance. Whereas abundance was consistently important across all systems, functional mechanisms were often system-dependent. As N availability continues to increase globally, management that focuses on locally susceptible functional groups and generally susceptible rare species will be essential to maintain biodiversity.1 aSuding, K.N.1 aCollins, Scott., L.1 aGough, L.1 aClark, C.M.1 aCleland, E.E.1 aGross, K.L.1 aMilchunas, D.G.1 aPennings, S. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/functional-and-abundance-based-mechanisms-explain-diversity-loss-due-nitrogen-fertilization04144nas a2200193 4500008004100000245012100041210006900162300001300231490000800244520340000252653002803652653002103680653002303701653002603724653003103750100002303781700002003804856012603824 2004 eng d00aFast ground-water mixing and basal recharge in an unconfined, alluvial aquifer, Konza LTER Site, Northeastern Kansas0 aFast groundwater mixing and basal recharge in an unconfined allu a271 -2990 v2863 aGround-water chemistry and water levels at three levels in a well nest were monitored biweekly for two and a half years in a shallow unconfined floodplain aquifer in order to study the dynamics of such shallow aquifers. The aquifer, in northeastern Kansas, consists of high porosity, low hydraulic conductivity fine-grained sediments dominated by silt and bounded by fractured limestone and shale bedrock. Results show that the aquifer underwent chemical stratification followed by homogenization three times during the study period. The length of time between maximum stratification and complete homogenization was 3–5 months. The chemical parameters most useful for demonstrating the mixing trends were dissolved nitrate and sulfate. Higher nitrate concentrations were typical of unsaturated zone water and were sourced from fertilizer applied to the cultivated fields on the floodplain. Variations in sulfate concentrations are attributed to dissolution of rare gypsum in limestone bedrock and variable evapoconcentration in the unsaturated zone. The mixing of three chemically different waters (entrained, unsaturated-zone water; water entering the base of the floodplain aquifer; and water in residence before each mixing event) was simulated. The resident water component for each mixing event was a fixed composition based on measured water chemistry in the intermediate part of the aquifer. The entrained water composition was calculated using a measured composition of the shallow part of the aquifer and measurements of soil-water content in the unsaturated zone. The incoming basal water composition and the fractions of each mixing component were fitted to match the measured chemistry at the three levels in the aquifer. A conceptual model for this site explains: (1) rapid water-level rises, (2) water-chemistry changes at all levels in the aquifer coincident with the water-level rises, (3) low measured hydraulic conductivity of the valley fill and apparent lack of preferential flow pathways, (4) minuscule amounts of unsaturated-zone recharge, and (5) dissolved oxygen peaks in the saturated zone lagging water-level peaks. We postulate that rainfall enters fractures in bedrock adjacent to the floodplain. This recharge water moves rapidly through the fractured bedrock into the base of the floodplain aquifer. The recharge event through the bedrock causes a rapid rise in water level in the floodplain aquifer, and the chemistry of the deepest water in the floodplain aquifer changes at that time. The rising water also entrains slow-moving, nitrate-rich, unsaturated-zone water, altering the chemistry of water in the shallow part of the aquifer. Vertical chemical stratification in the aquifer is thus created by the change in water chemistry in the upper and lower parts of the saturated zone. As the water level begins to decline, the aquifer undergoes mixing that eventually results in homogeneous water chemistry. The rise in water level from the recharge event also displaces gas from the unsaturated zone that is then replaced as the water level declines following the recharge event. This new, oxygen-rich vadose-zone air equilibrates rapidly with saturated-zone water, resulting in a dissolved oxygen pulse in the ground water that peaks one-half to 2 months after the water-level peak. This oxygen pulse subsequently declines over a period of 2–6 months.10aChemical stratification10aDissolved oxygen10aFloodplain aquifer10aGround-water recharge10aLoess; Soil-water modeling1 aMacpherson, G., L.1 aSophocleous, M. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fast-ground-water-mixing-and-basal-recharge-unconfined-alluvial-aquifer-konza-lter-site00557nas a2200109 4500008004100000245010500041210006900146260006700215300001300282100002300295856012900318 2004 eng d00aField vs. lab pH in remote wells, Konza Prairie LTER site, and implications for limestone weathering0 aField vs lab pH in remote wells Konza Prairie LTER site and impl aSaratoga Springs, New YorkbA. A. Balkema Publishers, New York a845 -8481 aMacpherson, G., L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/field-vs-lab-ph-remote-wells-konza-prairie-lter-site-and-implications-limestone-weathering01851nas a2200205 4500008004100000245010700041210006900148300001000217490000700227520115400234653000901388653001201397653001601409653002201425653001301447100001901460700002201479700001701501856012701518 2004 eng d00aFire effects on mycorrhizal symbiosis and root system architecture in southern African savanna grasses0 aFire effects on mycorrhizal symbiosis and root system architectu a1 -100 v423 aMycorrhizal symbiosis is a key factor influencing aspects of grassland and savanna structure and functioning including plant growth, competition, population and community dynamics, and responses to fire and herbivory. This study assessed the effects of fire on mycorrhizal symbiosis and root system architecture (RSA) in South African savanna grasses. Eighteen grass species were sampled across contrasting fire frequency treatments in the Kruger National Park experimental burn plots. All eighteen species studied were highly colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Both mycorrhizal symbiosis and RSA were strongly affected by fire, with an increase in AMF colonization and a decrease in root branching and fine root development with decreasing fire frequency. Greater water limitation in frequently burned savanna may result in greater fine root development, thus reducing plant dependency on AMF for acquisition of soil resources. Reduced mycorrhizal colonization in frequently burned savanna may also be driven by higher phosphorus : nitrogen ratios, or indirect effects related to higher grazing intensities in frequently burned sites.10afire10aGrasses10amycorrhizas10aroot architecture10aSavannas1 aHartnett, D.C.1 aPotgieter, A.L.F.1 aWilson, G.T. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-effects-mycorrhizal-symbiosis-and-root-system-architecture-southern-african-savanna02613nas a2200337 4500008004100000245007800041210006900119300001500188490000700203520162900210100001801839700001901857700001501876700001701891700001801908700001901926700001701945700001501962700002001977700001801997700001602015700001902031700001802050700001402068700001902082700001602101700001802117700001702135700001902152856010402171 2003 eng d00aFactors affecting ammonium uptake in streams - an inter-biome perspective0 aFactors affecting ammonium uptake in streams an interbiome persp a1329 -13520 v483 a1. The Lotic Intersite Nitrogen eXperiment (LINX) was a coordinated study of the relationships between North American biomes and factors governing ammonium uptake in streams. Our objective was to relate inter-biome variability of ammonium uptake to physical, chemical and biological processes. 2. Data were collected from 11 streams ranging from arctic to tropical and from desert to rainforest. Measurements at each site included physical, hydraulic and chemical characteristics, biological parameters, whole-stream metabolism and ammonium uptake. Ammonium uptake was measured by injection of 15N-ammonium and downstream measurements of 15N-ammonium concentration. 3. We found no general, statistically significant relationships that explained the variability in ammonium uptake among sites. However, this approach does not account for the multiple mechanisms of ammonium uptake in streams. When we estimated biological demand for inorganic nitrogen based on our measurements of in-stream metabolism, we found good correspondence between calculated nitrogen demand and measured assimilative nitrogen uptake. 4. Nitrogen uptake varied little among sites, reflecting metabolic compensation in streams in a variety of distinctly different biomes (autotrophic production is high where allochthonous inputs are relatively low and vice versa). 5. Both autotrophic and heterotrophic metabolism require nitrogen and these biotic processes dominate inorganic nitrogen retention in streams. Factors that affect the relative balance of autotrophic and heterotrophic metabolism indirectly control inorganic nitrogen uptake.1 aWebster, J.R.1 aMulholland, P.1 aTank, J.L.1 aValett, H.M.1 aDodds, W., K.1 aPeterson, B.J.1 aBowden, W.B.1 aDahm, C.N.1 aFindlay, S.E.G.1 aGregory, S.V.1 aGrimm, N.B.1 aHamilton, S.K.1 aJohnson, S.L.1 aMarti, E.1 aMcDowell, W.H.1 aMeyer, J.L.1 aMorrall, D.D.1 aThomas, S.A.1 aWollheim, W.M. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/factors-affecting-ammonium-uptake-streams-inter-biome-perspective03998nas a2200205 4500008004100000245009000041210006900131260003700200300001000237520329300247653002303540653002203563653000903585653001303594100002103607700001903628700001903647700001703666856010903683 2002 eng d00aFire behaviour as a key factor in the fire ecology of African grasslands and savannas0 aFire behaviour as a key factor in the fire ecology of African gr bMillpress, Rotterdam Netherlands a204 -3 a

The effect of fire on natural ecosystems involves the response of living organisms to the release of heat energy through the combustion of plant material. The manner in which and the factors that influence the release of heat energy, involves the study of fire behaviour. In Africa there is a serious deficiency of knowledge concerning the behaviour of fires and this is particularly applicable to the savanna and grassland areas of the continent. Virtually no attempt has been made to quantify the dynamics of the release of heat energy during a fire and the subsequent response of plants to it. The determination of such relationships helps explain many of the apparently inexplicable effects of fire that are often cited in the literature. Research on the effects of fire has been conducted throughout the grassland and savanna areas of Africa, particularly in southern Africa, since the early period of the 20th century. An interesting feature about these early investigations and subsequent research up until 1971, was that it focused on the effects of season and frequency of burning on the forage production potential of the grass sward and the ratio of bush to grass in savanna areas However, in 1971 a conference was convened in the United States of America in Florida, by the Tall Timbers Research Station on the theme of "Fire in Africa". The major benefit that accrued from this conference was the realization that in Africa the study of fire behaviour and its effects on the ecosystem, as described by type and intensity of fire, had been largely ignored in all the fire research that had been conducted up until that time. As a consequence a research program was initiated in South Africa and later extended to East Africa, to characterise the behaviour of fires burning in savanna and grassland vegetation and determine the effect of type and intensity of fire on the vegetation. The overall effect of type of fire is that surface head fires and crown fires have the least effect on grasses and have the potential to have the greatest effect on trees. This is because the heat is released above ground level away from the growing points of the grasses and closest to the growing points of the trees. Conversely, surface back fires have the opposite effect on grass and tree vegetation. This is because the heat is released close to ground level where the growing points of grasses are located and away from the growing points of the trees in the canopy. The overall effect of fire intensity is that grasses are generally not sensitive to increasing fire intensities because their growing points are located close to ground level away from the release of heat energy. Conversely trees are sensitive to increasing fire intensities because their growing points are generally exposed to the release of heat energy in the canopy of the trees. These effects explain why intense fires favour the development of grassland and open savannas and vice versa. The behaviour of surface head and back fires is currently being compared in southern African savannas and tall grass prairies in North America and results indicate that fires burning in grass dominated communities behave similarly and may therefore have similar effects on grass and tree vegetation globally.

10aAfrican grasslands10aAmerican prairies10afire10aSavannas1 aTrollope, W.S.W.1 aTrollope, L.A.1 aHartnett, D.C.1 aViegas, D.X. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-behaviour-key-factor-fire-ecology-african-grasslands-and-savannas01149nas a2200133 4500008004100000245007300041210006900114300001000183490000700193520066800200100001600868700001700884856011400901 2002 eng d00aFirst Kansas record for Tetraopes texanus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)0 aFirst Kansas record for Tetraopes texanus Coleoptera Cerambycida a341 -0 v753 aA red long-horned beetle was collected from the common milkweed Asclepias syriaca during an arthropod survey conducted on 26 June 1999, at Konza Prairie Biological Station in Riley County, Kansas, USA. Several weeks later, on 17 July 1999, another specimen was taken at the same location, west of the historical Hokanson Homestead, again from A. syriaca. Morphological analysis identified the species as Tetraopes texanus, which was distinguished from other related species based on the distinctive shape of the eleventh (distal) antennomere and the fringes of very long setae at the apices of the antennomeres. This is the first record of T. texanus from Kansas.1 aHuber, R.L.1 aWright, V.F. uhttp://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20033025576.html;jsessionid=6B5111356C887C34FE44416E1D3B8FE4?freeview=true02467nas a2200145 4500008004100000245010300041210006900144260004300213300001100256490002100267520194000288653002202228100001502250856005602265 2001 eng d00aFactors Controlling Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Nitrogen Cycling in Tallgrass Prairie Streams0 aFactors Controlling Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Nitrogen Cy aManhattan, KSbKansas State University a1 -1330 vPhD Dissertation3 a

The factors regulating nitrogen cycling in streams draining Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas, were analyzed to examine the influence of agricultural activity and non-anthropogenic factors. Patterns of total nitrogen concentrations in the water-column were driven largely by changes in nitrate concentration. A gradient of increasing nitrate occurred from pristine upland reaches to the more agriculturally influenced lowland reaches. The relatively pristine upstream sites had significantly lower nitrification and denitrification rates than the downstream, more agriculturally influenced, sites. Water-column ammonium and nitrate concentrations were correlated with whole stream nitrification rates, but not whole stream denitrification rates. Nitrification rates were positively correlated with denitrification rates at the whole stream level, but not at the substratum level. A significant positive relationship was observed between substrata nitrification rates and dissolved oxygen concentration in all seasons except summer, when concentrations were super saturated. Nitrogen uptake followed Michaelis-Menton kinetics when associated with all substrata, and was 10-fold higher for ammonium relative to nitrate. Nitrification and denitrification responses to variable ammonium, nitrate, and oxygen concentrations differed with substrata type. Substantial temporal variability (< 30%) was predicted in uptake, nitrification, and denitrification due to natural variation in water-column ammonium, nitrate, and oxygen concentrations. These data suggest that natural processes lead to less than 10-fold variation in nitrate concentrations in relatively pristine prairie streams, whereas variation due to agricultural inputs is < 100 fold. Data also suggest that whole stream nitrification and denitrification may be decoupled at the reach level by factors that decrease substrata heterogeneity in stream channels.

10atallgrass prairie1 aKemp, M.J. uhttp://disccrs.org/dissertation_abstract?abs_id=34002504nas a2200145 4500008004100000245009300041210006900134300001500203490000700218520194800225653002202173100001802195700002402213856012102237 2001 eng d00aFeedback loops in ecological hierarchies following urine deposition in tallgrass prairie0 aFeedback loops in ecological hierarchies following urine deposit a1319 -13290 v823 aAlthough theory predicts that large-scale factors will constrain small-scale interactions, the potential for small-scale events to impact large-scale patch structure is less clear. We examined experimentally the effects of urine deposition, a highly localized event, on small- and large-scale vegetation structure and spatial variation in tallgrass prairie. The response by vegetation to urine deposition may be mediated by grazing. Thus, we also determined the probability of urine patches serving as foci for grazing events by bison. Likelihood of bison grazing was much higher on vs. off urine patches, and grazed areas initiated on urine patches expanded well beyond the area of urine deposition. Abundance of four common graminoid species, and of all graminoids combined, increased on urine patches in ungrazed prairie, while the abundance of Andropogon gerardii and total graminoids decreased on urine patches in grazed prairie. The abundance of Aster ericoides, and all forbs combined, increased on urine patches in ungrazed, but not in grazed, prairie. Species richness and Shannon-Weiner diversity increased on urine patches in ungrazed prairie but were not affected by urine treatment in grazed prairie. Total spatial variance of graminoids increased relative to controls in response to urine treatment, grazing, and the combination of these treatments. For forbs, total variance increased marginally compared to controls only in response to urine treatment in ungrazed prairie. In combination, urine patches plus grazing produced unique large-scale patch structure compared to urine patches in ungrazed prairie. The most important impact of urine patches on community structure resulted from preferential grazing of urine patches by bison, which increases both the size and severity of the grazed area. Urine patches are thus an example of a small-scale perturbation that generates larger-scale patch structure in tallgrass prairie.10atallgrass prairie1 aSteinauer, M.1 aCollins, Scott., L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/feedback-loops-ecological-hierarchies-following-urine-deposition-tallgrass-prairie04904nas a2200145 4500008004100000245007300041210006900114300001500183490000700198520439000205653002204595100001804617700001904635856010404654 2001 eng d00aFire and grazing regulate belowground processes in tallgrass prairie0 aFire and grazing regulate belowground processes in tallgrass pra a3377 -33890 v823 aIn tallgrass prairie, belowground processes are even more important than in forested systems because aboveground biomass and standing dead litter are periodically removed by frequent fires or grazers. Thus, studies that address factors regulating belowground processes are especially relevant for tallgrass prairie. We predicted that effects of grazing and burning differ belowground and that changes in root productivity caused by burning or grazing provide feedback that affects ecosystem fluxes of C and N. These differences in belowground response should be driven largely by changes in N dynamics and the degree to which burning and grazing affect the pathway and magnitude of N loss and the degree of N limitation in these systems. Fire, the major pathway of N loss in ungrazed tallgrass prairie, should result in reduced net N mineralization and N availability. We expected plants to compensate for increased N limitation by increasing their allocation to roots, as manifested in increased soil respiration and C cycling belowground. In contrast, grazing conserves N in the ecosystem by redistributing the N once contained in grass to labile forms in urine and dung. Thus, we predicted that grazing should increase N cycling rates and N availability to plants. Consequently, grazed plants should be less N limited and should allocate less C to roots and more to shoots. This, in turn, should decrease belowground C cycling, manifested as reduced soil CO2 flux. We explored the roles of grazing and burning on root growth in experimental watersheds at Konza Prairie, Kansas, USA. To assess effects of fire on root productivity, we installed root ingrowth cores in two watersheds without grazers that differ in fire frequency: annually vs. infrequently burned (four years since the last fire). To assess effects of grazing, we installed root ingrowth cores in an annually burned watershed grazed by bison and in fenced controls (exclosures). Within bison “grazing lawns,” root ingrowth cores were installed in lightly and heavily grazed patches. Concurrently, we measured in situ rates of net N mineralization and soil respiration as indices of soil N and C cycling. Annual burning resulted in a 25% increase in root growth compared to the unburned watershed (four years since last fire), as plants compensated for N limitation by increasing allocation to roots. Grazing had the opposite effect: it decreased root growth, especially in heavily grazed patches (∼30% less than in fenced controls). Grazing by ungulates increased N cycling and availability. Therefore, grazed plants, instead of being N limited, experienced C limitation as shoots regrew and plants allocated less C to roots. Interestingly, root ingrowth on the long-term unburned watershed was as low as in lightly grazed patches in the grazed watershed. Thus, seemingly disparate treatments such as infrequent burning (characterized by accumulation of detritus aboveground) and grazing (periodic biomass removal) both had higher levels of N availability than annually burned prairie in the absence of grazers. Root growth in unburned and grazed watersheds must be limited by resources other than N (e.g., C in grazing lawns or light in infrequently burned prairie). Burning and grazing also altered root tissue chemistry in contrasting ways that further accentuated the root growth differences caused by these treatments. Frequent fires lowered substrate quality of roots (C:N = 60), thus increasing N limitation. In contrast, grazing and infrequent burning improved root tissue quality (C:N = 40), promoting faster cycling of N. These large differences in root growth and tissue chemistry can result in profound ecosystem-level changes. Grazing increased net N mineralization rates from 87% to 617% compared to watersheds without grazers, whereas annual burning decreased it by ∼50% compared to unburned prairie. Although grazing speeded up N cycling, it reduced soil respiration by 50% compared to fenced controls, presumably because of reduced root mass. On the other hand, annual burning increased soil respiration, presumably because of increased root biomass. Ultimately, differences in the quantity and quality of roots provide feedback to affect C and N cycling and help to maintain and even promote the fundamental differences in N cycling between burning and grazing in tallgrass prairie.10atallgrass prairie1 aJohnson, L.C.1 aMatchett, J.R. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-and-grazing-regulate-belowground-processes-tallgrass-prairie00572nas a2200205 4500008004100000245003100041210003100072260006800103300001100171653000900182100001300191700001400204700001400218700001400232700001300246700001800259700001300277700001400290856006200304 2001 eng d00aFire in Eastern Ecosystems0 aFire in Eastern Ecosystems aOgden, UTbUSDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station a53 -9610afire1 aWade, D.1 aBrock, B.1 aBrose, P.1 aGrace, J.1 aHoch, G.1 aPatterson, W.1 aWade, D.1 aBrown, J. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-eastern-ecosystems00463nas a2200133 4500008004100000245006400041210006300105300001300168490000700181100001800188700001800206700001900224856008600243 2001 eng d00aFirst record of the cinereus shrew for Riley County, Kansas0 aFirst record of the cinereus shrew for Riley County Kansas a107 -1080 v331 aMatlack, R.S.1 aKaufman, D.W.1 aCharlton, R.E. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/first-record-cinereus-shrew-riley-county-kansas02609nas a2200253 4500008004100000245009800041210006900139300001100208490000600219520178000225653002402005653001602029653001002045653001402055653001502069653002502084653002302109653002202132653002102154100002002175700001902195700002002214856012102234 2001 eng d00aFrequency and extent of water limitation to primary production in a mesic temperate grassland0 aFrequency and extent of water limitation to primary production i a19 -280 v43 aThe frequency and extent of water limitation to aboveground net primary production (ANPP) in a mesic grassland in NE Kansas (Konza Prairie, USA) was assessed with an 8-year irrigation experiment. Since 1991, transects spanning upland and lowland sites in annually burned, ungrazed tallgrass prairie were provided with supplemental water to satisfy evapotranspirational demands. This protocol minimized water limitations during the growing season, as well as interannual variability in water stress. Irrigation of this mesic grassland increased ANPP in 6 of 8 years by an average of 26% when compared to control transects. Although interannual variation in ANPP was greater in uplands than lowlands at nominal levels of precipitation, reducing interannual variability in water availability via irrigation eliminated topographic differences; the irrigation protocol also reduced interannual variability in ANPP by as much as 40%. The addition of supplemental water enabled us to extend the relationship between annual precipitation and ANPP in grasslands to precipitation levels (average, 1153 mm; maximum, 1346 mm) similar to those experienced by more mesic grasslands that today exist only as remnants several hundred kilometers east of Kansas. This relationship was linear (r 2= 0.81), with maximum ANPP (738 g/m2) similar to values reported for sites in Illinois and Wisconsin. After 8 years of irrigation, production of the C3 forb component was twice that in control sites. These results indicate that water limitations in grasslands at the western edge of the presettlement extent of tallgrass prairie affect ANPP in most years and that this high frequency of water limitation may lead to greater dominance of the C4 grasses than is seen in more eastern grassland sites.10aAndropogon gerardii10aC 4 grasses10aforbs10agrassland10airrigation10aleaf water potential10aPrimary production10atallgrass prairie10awater limitation1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aBriggs, J., M.1 aKoelliker, J.K. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/frequency-and-extent-water-limitation-primary-production-mesic-temperate-grassland00655nas a2200157 4500008004100000245011600041210006900157260004100226300001100267653002200278100001800300700001800318700001800336700001700354856012600371 2000 eng d00aFaunal structure of small mammals in tallgrass prairie: an evaluation of richness and spatiotemporal nestedness0 aFaunal structure of small mammals in tallgrass prairie an evalua aHays, KSbFort Hays State University a47 -7010atallgrass prairie1 aKaufman, D.M.1 aKaufman, G.A.1 aKaufman, D.W.1 aChoate, J.R. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/faunal-structure-small-mammals-tallgrass-prairie-evaluation-richness-and-spatiotemporal02602nas a2200229 4500008004100000245010700041210006900148300001300217490000800230520182600238653001402064653002102078653001802099653002602117653002002143100001902163700001702182700001602199700001402215700001902229856012402248 2000 eng d00aFeeding ecology and emergence production of annual cicadas (Homoptera: Cicadidae) in tallgrass prairie0 aFeeding ecology and emergence production of annual cicadas Homop a535 -5420 v1233 aThe emergence phenology and feeding ecology of annual cicadas in tallgrass prairie are poorly documented. However, these large insects are abundant, and their annual emergence represents a potentially important flux of energy and nutrients from belowground to aboveground. We conducted a study at Konza Prairie Research Natural Area in eastern Kansas to characterize and quantify cicada emergence and associated energy and nutrient fluxes. We established emergence trap transects in three habitat types (upland prairie, lowland prairie, and riparian forest), and collected cicadas every 3 days from May to September. A subset of trapped cicadas was used for species- and sex-specific mass, nutrient, and stable isotope analyses. Five species were trapped during the study, of which three were dominant. Cicadetta calliope and Tibicen aurifera exhibited significantly higher emergence production in upland prairie than in lowland prairie, and were not captured in forested sites at all. T. dorsata emerged from all three habitat types, and though not significant, showed a trend of greater abundance in lowland grasslands. Two less abundant species, T. pruinosa and T. lyricen, emerged exclusively from forested habitats. Nitrogen fluxes associated with total cicada emergence were estimated to be ∼4 kg N ha–1 year–1 in both grassland habitats, and 1.01 kg N ha–1 year–1 in forested sites. Results of stable isotope analyses showed clear patterns of resource partitioning among dominant cicada species emerging from grassland sites. T. aurifera and C. calliope had δ13C and δ15N signatures indicative of feeding on shallowly rooted C4 plants such as the warm-season grasses dominant in tallgrass prairie ecosystems, whereas T. dorsata signatures suggested preferential feeding on more deeply rooted C3 plants.10agrassland10aInsect emergence10aNutrient flux10aresource partitioning10aStable isotopes1 aCallaham, M.A.1 aWhiles, M.R.1 aMeyer, C.K.1 aBrock, B.1 aCharlton, R.E. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/feeding-ecology-and-emergence-production-annual-cicadas-homoptera-cicadidae-tallgrass02459nas a2200157 4500008004100000245010200041210006900143300001300212490000700225520186600232100001402098700001902112700001602131700002402147856013002171 2000 eng d00aFertilization effects of species density and primary productivity in herbaceous plant communities0 aFertilization effects of species density and primary productivit a428 -4390 v893 aFertilization experiments in plant communities are often interpreted in the context of a hump-shaped relationship between species richness and productivity. We analyze results of fertilization experiments from seven terrestrial plant communities representing a productivity gradient (arctic and alpine tundra, two old-field habitats, desert, short- and tall-grass prairie) to determine if the response of species richness to experimentally increased productivity is consistent with the hump-shaped curve. In this analysis, we compared ratios of the mean response in nitrogen-fertilized plots to the mean in control plots for aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and species density (D; number of species per plot of fixed unit area). In general, ANPP increased and plant species density decreased following nitrogen addition, although considerable variation characterized the magnitude of response. We also analyzed a subset of the data limited to the longest running studies at each site (≥4 yr), and found that adding 9 to 13 g N m−2 yr−1 (the consistent amount used at all sites) increased ANPP in all communities by approximately 50% over control levels and reduced species density by approximately 30%. The magnitude of response of ANPP and species density to fertilization was independent of initial community productivity. There was as much variation in the magnitude of response among communities within sites as among sites, suggesting community-specific mechanisms of response. Based on these results, we argue that even long-term fertilization experiments are not good predictors of the relationship between species richness and productivity because they are relatively small-scale perturbations whereas the pattern of species richness over natural productivity gradients is influenced by long-term ecological and evolutionary processes.1 aGough, L.1 aOsenberg, C.W.1 aGross, K.L.1 aCollins, Scott., L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fertilization-effects-species-density-and-primary-productivity-herbaceous-plant-communities01116nas a2200133 4500008004100000245012700041210006900168260004300237300001100280490002100291520059600312100002000908856005400928 2000 eng d00aFine-scale spatial and temporal variation in the relationship between spectral reflectance and a prairie vegetation canopy0 aFinescale spatial and temporal variation in the relationship bet aManhattan, KSbKansas State University a1 -2090 vPhD Dissertation3 a

Close-range remote sensing, or field spectroscopy, involves the use of hand-held or boom-mounted radiometers to study relationships between spectral characteristics of Earth surfaces and their biophysical properties as measured in the field environment. Such data often provide the basis for remote sensing work conducted at broader scales, such as those monitored by modern Earth-observing satellites. However, spatial and temporal variation in the relationships between spectral response and surface characteristics usually are not considered in the analysis of remotely sensed data

1 aRundquist, B.C. uhttp://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2000PhDT........97R01201nas a2200133 4500008004100000245010400041210006900145300001100214490000700225520067300232653002200905100001700927856012300944 2000 eng d00aFire and a tallgrass prairie reptile community: effects on relative abundance and seasonal activity0 aFire and a tallgrass prairie reptile community effects on relati a12 -200 v343 aFew intensive studies have been conducted on reptile populations of the tallgrass prairie. In addition, the effects of fire on these populations are also largely unknown. I established drift fence arrays connected to funnel traps to study the community composition and seasonal activity of reptiles found on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area located near Manhattan, Kansas. This design also gave me the opportunity to examine the response of reptile populations to a spring wildfire. A total of 657 individuals representing 12 species were captured from 1994-1996. The results suggest that one species, Coluber constrictor, may respond negatively to recent fire.10atallgrass prairie1 aCavitt, J.F. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-and-tallgrass-prairie-reptile-community-effects-relative-abundance-and-seasonal00631nas a2200169 4500008004100000245007800041210006900119260003800188300001100226653002200237100001800259700002000277700001900297700001900316700002400335856010200359 1998 eng d00aThe flora of Konza Prairie: A historical review and contemporary patterns0 aflora of Konza Prairie A historical review and contemporary patt aNew YorkbOxford University Press a69 -8010atallgrass prairie1 aFreeman, C.C.1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aBriggs, J., M.1 aHartnett, D.C.1 aCollins, Scott., L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/flora-konza-prairie-historical-review-and-contemporary-patterns02452nas a2200181 4500008004100000245013300041210006900174300001000243490000700253520172600260653003401986653002302020653003202043653003202075100001402107700002002121856012902141 1998 eng d00aFluxes of CO2, water vapor, and energy from a prairie ecosystem during the seasonal transition from carbon sink to carbon source0 aFluxes of CO2 water vapor and energy from a prairie ecosystem du a1 -140 v893 aIn many temperate-zone ecosystems, seasonal changes in environmental and biological factors influence the dynamics and magnitude of surface-atmosphere exchange. Research was conducted to measure surface-layer fluxes of CO2, water vapor, and energy in a C4-dominated tallgrass prairie during the autumnal transition from carbon sink to carbon source. Data were collected between DOY 220 and 320, 1996 on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area near Manhattan, KS, USA. Mass fluxes were measured with a tower-based conditional sampling (CS) system, and the surface energy balance was measured with Bowen ratio (BR) methods. Soil-surface CO2 fluxes were measured with a closed-chamber system. Carbon and energy fluxes decreased over the study period as the canopy senesced. When skies were clear, daily net CO2 exchange (NCE) varied from a maximum gain of 17.8 g CO2 m−2 day−1 on DOY 226 to a maximum loss of −10.3 g CO2 m−2 day−1 on DOY 290. Over the 100-day study period, the ecosystem had a net loss of −217 g CO2 m−2, with the change from sink to source occurring on about DOY 255. Soil-surface CO2 fluxes were −0.4 mg CO2 m−2 s−1 at the start of the study but declined to −0.04 mg CO2 m−2 s−1 on DOY 320. The Bowen ratio increased from 0.5 to 4 over the study period. The seasonal trend in NCE was governed by the senescence of the canopy and not abrupt changes in weather. Senescence also influenced canopy conductance, which caused a seasonal transformation in the surface energy balance. Data suggest that any climatic or management factors that affect the rate and timing of the autumnal sink-source transition can have a strong influence, on the carbon and water balance in the ecosystem.10aCarbon sink-source transition10aSeasonal variation10aSurface-atmosphere exchange10aTallgrass prairie ecosystem1 aHam, J.M.1 aKnapp, Alan, K. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fluxes-co2-water-vapor-and-energy-prairie-ecosystem-during-seasonal-transition-carbon-sink01600nas a2200145 4500008004100000245008000041210006900121300001200190490000800202520108800210100001801298700001601316700001501332856010701347 1997 eng d00aFall point counts: Time of day affects numbers and species of birds counted0 aFall point counts Time of day affects numbers and species of bir a94 -1000 v1003 aTime of day is known to affect results of avian surveys during breeding season and winter. Because little is known of the effects of time of day on avian surveys conducted between breeding season and winter, we conducted a series of point counts during early morning, midmorning, midafternoon, and late afternoon from mid September through early December. Numbers of birds counted and species richness differed by time of day and season, but only 1 of 16 time-of-day differences in numbers of birds counted was significant (P < 0.05) because the number of birds counted fluctuated widely during the study. Point-count data collected during early morning and late afternoon produced similar avian assemblages, but significantly different (P < 0.05) from assemblages created by data collected during midmorning and midafternoon periods, which were significantly different (P < 0.05) from each other. Caution is urged when using point-count data collected at different times of the day in the fall to describe avian abundances and compare avian assemblages in the Plains States1 aO'Leske, D.L.1 aRobel, R.J.1 aKemp, K.E. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fall-point-counts-time-day-affects-numbers-and-species-birds-counted02615nas a2200133 4500008004100000245010100041210006900142300001600211490000700227520209700234653000902331100002002340856012102360 1997 eng d00aFire, N availability and plant response in grasslands: A test of the transient maxima hypothesis0 aFire N availability and plant response in grasslands A test of t a2559 - 23680 v783 a

In tallgrass prairie, periodic spring fires often result in enhanced aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) that exceeds the productivity of either annually burned or unburned sites. This study evaluated two alternate hypotheses for the “pulse” in productivity following an infrequent fire: (1) enhanced ANPP results from increased net N mineralization rates due to the removal of surface litter and elevated soil temperatures following fire (the enhanced mineralization hypothesis) or (2) enhanced ANPP results from a transient release from both light and N limitation during a nonequilibrium period as a switch from energy to N limitation occurs (the transient maxima hypothesis). The former hypothesis predicts greater N availability following an infrequent fire, relative to either annually burned or unburned prairie. The latter predicts that N availability following an infrequent fire will decline to intermediate levels, relative to unburned and annually burned prairie, and continue to decline with successive annual fires. To test these hypotheses, I measured inorganic soil N, net N mineralization rates, and plant productivity and N content at Konza Prairie in sites with several different burn histories (unburned, annually burned, infrequently burned). Inorganic soil N and cumulative net N mineralization rates were greatest on the unburned sites, lowest in annually burned sites, and intermediate in infrequently burned sites. Net N mineralization rates and plant tissue N content both declined with successive spring burning. These results did not support the enhanced mineralization hypothesis but indicated that enhanced ANPP following an infrequent fire resulted from an accumulation of inorganic and mineralizable N in the absence of fire which, under conditions of adequate light availability, was utilized following a spring fire. This is consistent with the transient maxima hypothesis and suggests that nonequilibrium responses to multiple, variable resources (light, energy, N) are an important aspect of tallgrass prairie ecosystem dynamics.

10afire1 aBlair, John, M. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-n-availability-and-plant-response-grasslands-test-transient-maxima-hypothesis02951nas a2200181 4500008004100000245011400041210006900155300001300224490000700237520227900244653002202523100001702545700001902562700001902581700002002600700001802620856013102638 1996 eng d00aFire and topographic effects on decomposition rates and nitrogen dynamics of buried wood in tallgrass prairie0 aFire and topographic effects on decomposition rates and nitrogen a323 -3290 v283 aDecay rates and N dynamics of wood in soils of annually burned and unburned tallgrass prairie were measured over a 3-y period. Wooden dowels were placed at upland, mid-slope and lowland sites in two annually burned and two unburned watersheds. After 3 y, an average of only 15% of initial wood mass remained in burned watersheds, while 34% remained in unburned watersheds. Topographic position also significantly affected decay rates, with dowels decaying faster in the shallow-soil, upland sites and slope sites than in the deep-soil, lowland sites. This pattern is opposite of that generally observed for plant productivity (i.e. greater at lowland sites compared to uplands), and suggests that the controls of belowground decomposition and plant productivity are dissimilar. Dowels in both burned and unburned watersheds showed significant increases in N concentration over 3 y. Topographic position did not affect N concentration in the residual dowel material. Burn treatment, however, did affect N concentration, with dowels decomposing in burned watersheds having a higher average N concentration (0.5% after 3 y exposure) than dowels in unburned watersheds (0.43%). Relatively rapid decay rates resulted in net release of N, despite increased N concentration in the residual material. Faster net N release on the annually burned watershed was due to faster mass loss, since there were no differences in the rate of increase in N concentration per unit mass lost. Surface soil temperatures on burned prairie following spring fire usually exceed those on unburned prairie. However, average monthly summer soil temperatures (May–August) at a 10 cm depth in burned and unburned plots during the study were not statistically different and could not explain decay rate differences. Additionally, one of our unburned watersheds was accidentally burned during the first year of the study. Surprisingly, there were no significant differences in rates of wood decay between that watershed and the other unburned watershed. This suggests that indirect effects of annual fire (i.e. changes in the composition of soil flora and fauna) may override the short-term effects of fire (i.e. changes in soil temperature and moisture) on belowground decomposition in tallgrass prairie.10atallgrass prairie1 aO'Lear, H.A.1 aSeastedt, T.R.1 aBriggs, J., M.1 aBlair, John, M.1 aRamundo, R.A. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-and-topographic-effects-decomposition-rates-and-nitrogen-dynamics-buried-wood-tallgrass02228nas a2200157 4500008004100000245008400041210006900125300001300194490000700207520168200214653001901896100001501915700001301930700001801943856010901961 1996 eng d00aForest spread and phase transitions at forest-prairie ecotones in Kansas, U.S.A0 aForest spread and phase transitions at forestprairie ecotones in a225 -2350 v113 aThe spread of gallery forest habitat into upland areas is of substantial interest to resource managers because such spread has many implications for the management of grassland and forest habitats. This study used a dynamic percolation model to examine the potential rates of spread or invasion of forest in eastern Kansas. Aerial photos taken 16 years apart at the Fort Riley training base were used to calibrate a spatially explicit contagion model of forest spread to interpolate and extrapolate the forest spread processes. Results fit the actual pattern of spread well, as measured by both visual inspection and a multiscale fractal measure of pattern. Comparisons to a long-term fire-exclusion experiment in Geary County, Kansas, and to the Konza Prairie also provided validation. Both the simulation and the 100-year Geary County series showed an interesting pattern of forest spread. Spread was slow and steady until about 20% forest cover was reached, at which point the rate increased. We conclude that this self-accelerating response is due to spatial patterns created by the spreading forest that tend to accelerate the growth process after a critical point is reached. On the basis of theoretical study and experimental simulation of the percolation phase transitions, we suggest that fractal dimensions in a transient ecotone of binary mixtures (e.g., trees and grasses) should range between 1.56 and 1.8958, and the critical fractal dimension during ecotonal phase transitions should be 1.7951. This critical point of about 18.5% forest cover that we predicted was close to the observed result and might represent a phase transition at the forest-prairie ecotone10agallery forest1 aLoehle, C.1 aLi, B.L.1 aSundell, R.C. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/forest-spread-and-phase-transitions-forest-prairie-ecotones-kansas-usa02898nas a2200241 4500008004100000245009700041210006900138300001300207490000700220520209400227653001402321653002202335653002402357653002302381653001802404653001202422653002502434100001502459700002402474700001602498700001602514856012602530 1995 eng d00aFine-scale spatial organization of tallgrass prairie vegetation along a topographic gradient0 aFinescale spatial organization of tallgrass prairie vegetation a a169 -1840 v303 aFine-scale spatial patterns of native tallgrass prairie vegetation were studied on Konza Prairie, Kansas, USA. Three sites, upland, slope, and lowland, were sampled in an ungrazed watershed. Presence of vascular plant species was recorded in two 25.6 m long transects of contiguous 5×5 cm micro-quadrats on each topographic position. Spatial patterns of species and functional groups were analyzed by information theory models ofJuhász-Nagy. Within-community variability of coexistence was expressed by the diversity and spatial dependence of local species combinations. Considerable diversity in the local coexistence of species was found on each site. Upland and hillside communities were richer and more diverse in species combinations than lowland. Spatial scale effected coexistence relationships. The maxima of information theory estimates varied between 15 and 30 cm. There was no trend in the variation of characteristic scales along the topographical gradient. Above 10 m, all sites tended to be homogeneous. The analysis of spatial associations revealed that variability in the local coexistence of species was strongly constrained in all topographic positions. Overall spatial association of species was the lowest on lowland. The characteristic scales of maximum association were between 1.2 m and 3 m at all sites. The maxima of information theory estimates for the functional group-based data appeared at smaller plot sizes than for the species based analyses. Only weak spatial associations were detected among the functional groups indicating that individuals of functional groups coexist well at small scales, and form combinations close to random expectations. The length of transects did not effect the relative associations. Strong positive correlations were found between the number of components (species or functional groups) and the maxima, of information theory models suggesting that richness is a good predictor of within-community coexistence relations. However, there was no relationship between richness and the characteristic scales of community patterns.10adiversity10aFunctional groups10aGrassland community10ainformation theory10aKonza Prairie10aScaling10aSpatial associations1 aBartha, S.1 aCollins, Scott., L.1 aGlenn, S.M.1 aKertesz, M. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fine-scale-spatial-organization-tallgrass-prairie-vegetation-along-topographic-gradient00623nas a2200133 4500008004100000245014600041210006900187260004000256300001100296490002100307653002200328100001800350856012100368 1993 eng d00aFire frequency and topoedaphic controls of net primary productivity in the tallgrass prairie: Development and tests of remote sensing indices0 aFire frequency and topoedaphic controls of net primary productiv aBoulder, CObUniversity of Colorado a1 -1690 vPhD Dissertation10atallgrass prairie1 aBenning, T.L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-frequency-and-topoedaphic-controls-net-primary-productivity-tallgrass-prairie00913nas a2200133 4500008004100000245004400041210004400085300001300129490000700142520053300149653000900682100001700691856007100708 1992 eng d00aFire and the development of oak forests0 aFire and the development of oak forests a346 -3530 v423 a

Fire, whether it has occurred to a low, moderate, or high degree, seems to be the common denominator for the development of oak forests on upland sites and their past and present ecological status. This article reviews pre- and postsettlement forest conditions for the major oak dominated ecosystems throughout eastern North America to discern how the influence of fire and human activity have affected the past and present ecology of oak forests and how these factors will likely continue to affect forests in the future

10afire1 aAbrams, M.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-and-development-oak-forests03051nas a2200133 4500008004100000245007900041210006900120300001500189490000700204520255000211653002202761100002402783856011002807 1992 eng d00aFire frequency and community heterogeneity in tallgrass prairie vegetation0 aFire frequency and community heterogeneity in tallgrass prairie  a2001 -20060 v733 a

Few studies have directly addressed the effects of disturbance on spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Spatial hererogeneity is the degree of dissimilarity in species composition from one point to another in a community, wheras temporal heterogeneity is compositional change within a site over time. The purposes of this study were to determine 1) if a quadratic relationship exists between within-site heterogenity and disturbance frequency as predicted by the intermediated disturbance hypothesis (IDH), 2)if disturbed and undistubed sites have similar heterogeneity as implied by the disturbance heterogeneity hypothesis (DHM), and whether or not these results differed with scale, and 3)if there is a relationship between spatial and temporal heterogeneity as implied by the DHM. Analyses were based on plant species composition data collected over 9 yr in quadrats permanently located in experimental management units subjected to different burning frequencies at Konza Prairie Research Natual Area, Kansas, USA. The relationship between disturbance frequency and within-site heterogeneity was opposie that predicted by the IDH. Heterogeneity was lowest at intermediate disturbance frequencies. Heterogeneity in anually burned prairie was lower than in unburned prairie and prairies burned once every 4 yr in contrast to predictions of the DHM. However, this relationship did not hold at larger spatial scales. There was a positive relationship between disturbance frequency and within-site heterogenity was opposite that predicted by the IDH. Heterogenity was lowest at intermediate disturbance frequencies. Heterogeneity in annually burned prairie was lower than in unburned prairie and prairies burned once every year in contrast to predictions of the DHM. However, this relationship did not hold at larger spatial scales. There was a positive relationship between within-site spatial and temporal heterogeneity on annually burned sites, sites burned once every 4 yr, and nearly so on sites burned every other year. Within-site heterogeneity was negatively correlated with cover of Andropogon gerardii, and positively correlated with total richness and species diversity. Studies of variation, in addition to averages, will increase our ability to predict patterns of species distribution and abundance within and between communities in response to disturbance. Key words: Andropogon gerardii, fire, grassland vegetation, intermediate disturbance hypothesis, Konza Prairie, spatial heterogeneity, species density, species diversity

10atallgrass prairie1 aCollins, Scott., L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-frequency-and-community-heterogeneity-tallgrass-prairie-vegetation01067nas a2200145 4500008004100000245010700041210006900148300001300217490000700230520050300237653002200740100001900762700001600781856012400797 1991 eng d00aFire, mowing and insecticide effects on soil Sternorrhyncha (Homoptera) densities in tallgrass prairie0 aFire mowing and insecticide effects on soil Sternorrhyncha Homop a238 -2420 v643 a

Densities of soil-dwelling Sternorrhyncha (Aphidoidea + Coccoidea) in tallgrass prairie significantly increased in response to application of a foliar insecticide (carbaryl). Densities of these soil homopterans also increased in response to mowing of vegetation. Spring burning of vegetation to enhance grass production did not have a strong affect on total populations. Resource abundance of cool season grasses, as mediated by competition from other herbivores, best explain these patterns

10atallgrass prairie1 aSeastedt, T.R.1 aReddy, V.M. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-mowing-and-insecticide-effects-soil-sternorrhyncha-homoptera-densities-tallgrass02201nas a2200241 4500008004100000245010800041210006900149300001100218490000700229520139600236653002201632100002001654700001901674700001701693700001901710700002001729700001601749700001801765700001701783700001901800700001601819856012401835 1990 eng d00aField bioassessment for selecting test systems to evaluate military training lands in tallgrass prairie0 aField bioassessment for selecting test systems to evaluate milit a81 -930 v143 a

Ecosystems responses to physical or chemical stress may vary from changes in single organisms to alteration of the structure and function of the ecosystem. These responses to stress cannot be predicted exactly. Ecosystems repeatedly exposed to physical and/or chemical stress can be used to study the separate and combined environmental effects of stress. Such studies also allow the development of procedures to select test systems for the analysis of stress in ecosystems. A preliminary field survey of six military training sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, USA, was conducted to identify and verify ecological test systems for evaluating ecosystem responses to physical and/or chemical stress. Comparisons of these data with data collected concurrently from Konza Prairie Research Natural Area reference sites showed that soil microarthropods, some species of macroarthropods, small mammals, and native earthworm species were negatively affected by stress. In contrast, plant species diversity, plant foliage biomass, soil mycorrhizae, and many soil characteristics were within the boundaries of nominal variations observed on "pristine" Konza Prairie. Introduced European earthworms appeared to be positively affected by training activities. This study provided a test of systematic procedures to support impact analysis, ecological toxicology, and ecosystem risk assessment

10atallgrass prairie1 aSchaeffer, D.J.1 aSeastedt, T.R.1 aGibson, D.J.1 aHartnett, D.C.1 aHetrick, B.A.D.1 aJames, S.W.1 aKaufman, D.W.1 aSchwab, A.P.1 aHerricks, E.E.1 aNovak, E.W. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/field-bioassessment-selecting-test-systems-evaluate-military-training-lands-tallgrass00526nam a2200157 4500008004100000245004500041210004500086260004500131300001000176653002200186100002400208700001800232700002400250700001800274856007600292 1990 eng d00aFire in North American tallgrass prairie0 aFire in North American tallgrass prairie aNorman, OKbUniversity of Oklahoma Press a175 -10atallgrass prairie1 aCollins, Scott., L.1 aWallace, L.L.1 aCollins, Scott., L.1 aWallace, L.L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-north-american-tallgrass-prairie02489nas a2200157 4500008004100000245011800041210006900159300001300228490000800241520185200249653004202101100001702143700001902160700002202179856013002201 1990 eng d00aFire temperature heterogeneity in contrasting fire-prone habitats: Kansas tallgrass prairie and Florida sandhills0 aFire temperature heterogeneity in contrasting fireprone habitats a349 -3560 v1173 a

Spatial patterns of fire temperatures from a tallgrass prairie and adjacent Gallery forest in northeast Kansas and a sandhill community in central Florida were recorded using temperature sensitive pyrometers. The objectives of the study were to determine, in both habitats, the range of temperatures reached during prescribed burning under a range of different conditions. Both habitats are characterized by frequent, low- intensity fires confined to the herbaceous vegetation and low shrubs. In tallgrass prairie, fire temperature maxima ranged from 19 to 399oC (n=243). The highest temperatures were associated with fires in isolated tree and shrub canopies (399oC). Fires were hotter in headfires compared with backfires (47oC difference), on lowlands compared with uplands (12oC difference), and in areas that had not been burned for many years compared with areas burned annually (34oC difference). In the Florida sandhill, fire temperature maxima ranged from 35 to 538oC (n=240), with the highest temperatures recorded at ground level in sites which had not been burned for at least 5 years. Compared with frequently burned areas, areas that have not burned for many years build up high fuel loads that support a more homogeneous, hotter fire. In the tallgrass prairie, homogeneity of fire temperatures was greatest in areas of intermediate fire frequencies. The greater spatial heterogeneity in fire characteristics of prairie with very high fire frequency (annual fire) and very low frequency (greater than 15 years between fires) is likely a result of low fuel loads and more patchy vegetation structure, respectively. In sandhill, low fuel loads and patchy distribution of fuel contribute to high spatial variability in fire temperatures in annually burned sites. Key words: fire, Florida, grassland, Kansas, sandhill, temperature

10afire;gallery forest;tallgrass prairie1 aGibson, D.J.1 aHartnett, D.C.1 aSmith-Merrill, G. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-temperature-heterogeneity-contrasting-fire-prone-habitats-kansas-tallgrass-prairie-and01211nas a2200145 4500008004100000245006700041210006700108300001100175490000800186520071700194653002200911100001600933700002100949856009500970 1989 eng d00aFeeding ecology of some earthworms in Kansas tallgrass prairie0 aFeeding ecology of some earthworms in Kansas tallgrass prairie a78 -830 v1213 a

Morphological correlates of food choice and habitat use in earthworms developed on Lumbricidae and some New Zealand Megascolecidae applied in a general sense to some North American species of the genus Diplocardia (Megascolecidae), but use of the same criteria between taxa is not valid. Intestinal infolding was less extensive in the Diplocardia than in the Lumbricidae, but species of both groups that feed below ground had the greatest development of dorsal infolding of the intestine. The Diplocardia species present in North American prairie included one topsoil-surface feeding species and four species that feed below ground on unrecognizable organic matter, with infrequent root and leaf fragments

10atallgrass prairie1 aJames, S.W.1 aCunningham, M.R. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/feeding-ecology-some-earthworms-kansas-tallgrass-prairie01684nas a2200229 4500008004100000245004100041210003700082260004600119300001300165520104300178653000901221100001601230700001601246700001901262700001701281700001601298700001801314700001901332700001601351700002101367856006601388 1989 eng d00aIs fire a disturbance in grasslands?0 afire a disturbance in grasslands aLincoln, NEbUniversity of Nebraska Press a159 -1613 a

Many grasslands, and in particular the tallgrass prairies of North America, are generally thought to be maintained by periodic fire. Semantic disagreement among researchers, however, threatens to hamper discussion of fire as an ecological force in grassland ecosystems. Some authors emphasize that fires are disturbances (or perturbations) since these fires disrupt or alter ecosystem states, trends and dynamics (e.g., accumulating nitrogen is volatilized, plant and animal communities change in composition). Other researchers point out that, because these fire-induced disruptions and alterations can maintain the status quo of the ecosystem (e.g., prevent it from becoming woodland), it is the lack of fire rather than fire itself that should be considered a disturbance. We argue that, since both points of view are useful, there is little to be gained by labeling loosely either fire or lack thereof as a "disturbance" in grassland ecosystems. Key Words: disturbance, fire, grasslands, perturbation, prairie, Kansas

10afire1 aEvans, E.W.1 aFinck, E.J.1 aBriggs, J., M.1 aGibson, D.J.1 aJames, S.W.1 aKaufman, D.W.1 aSeastedt, T.R.1 aBragg, T.B.1 aStubbendieck, J. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-disturbance-grasslands01977nas a2200145 4500008004100000245010400041210006900145300001300214490000700227520141000234653002201644100001901666700001601685856013001701 1988 eng d00aFactors influencing nitrogen concentrations in soil and water in a North American tallgrass prairie0 aFactors influencing nitrogen concentrations in soil and water in a725 -7290 v203 a

The influence of roots, soil fauna and microbes on nitrogen concentrations in soil water in annually-burned tallgrass prairie were evaluated using porous cup lysimeters and a series of manipulations involving an insecticide, clipping of the vegetation, and C and N additions to the soil surface. An organophosphate insecticide (isofenphos), which significantly reduced densities of certain nematode and arthropod groups, resulted in small but statistically significant declines in soil water NO3- concentrations during 2 of 3 yr of study. Organic N, the dominant form of soil water N, was unaffected by treatment. Clipping the foliage weekly during the spring resulted in significant reductions in annual foliage production, but failed to change concentrations of soil water NO3- or organic N. Nitrogen additions (10 g N m-2 as NH4NO3) greatly increased soil water NO3- concentrations; however, when 250 g C sucrose m-2 were concurrently added to plots, there was a significant reduction in soil water NO3- concentrations. Soil water NH4+ concentrations were unaffected by treatment. These studies emphasize the importance of microbes as the dominant factor affecting soil water N concentrations in carbon-rich soils. Plants, soil fauna and nitrogen fertilizers do affect N. dynamics, but, under annually-burned conditions in the tallgrass prairie, these effects are obscured by microbial processes

10atallgrass prairie1 aSeastedt, T.R.1 aHayes, D.C. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/factors-influencing-nitrogen-concentrations-soil-and-water-north-american-tallgrass-prairie00901nas a2200169 4500008004100000245004500041210003900086300001100125490000700136520043100143100001800574700001500592700001600607700001800623700001700641856007300658 1988 eng d00aThe first ISLSCP field experiment (FIFE)0 afirst ISLSCP field experiment FIFE a22 -270 v693 a

The International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) was initiated to address the research problems associated with interpretation and exploitation of satellite data over the earth's land surface. As the project developed, it was recognized that these objectives could not be attained unless there was also a clearer understanding of the biological controls acting on land-surface-atmosphere fluxes

1 aSellers, P.J.1 aHall, F.G.1 aAsrar, G.A.1 aStrebel, D.E.1 aMurphy, R.E. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/first-islscp-field-experiment-fife00572nas a2200133 4500008004100000245009700041210006900138260004300207300001100250490002100261653002200282100001700304856011700321 1987 eng d00aFactors affecting the nitrate removal potential of sediments from a tallgrass prairie stream0 aFactors affecting the nitrate removal potential of sediments fro aManhattan, KSbKansas State University a1 -1070 vPhD Dissertation10atallgrass prairie1 aHooker, K.L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/factors-affecting-nitrate-removal-potential-sediments-tallgrass-prairie-stream00925nas a2200133 4500008004100000245006500041210006500106300001100171490000700182520047900189100001600668700001700684856009000701 1987 eng d00aFeeding by bobwhites on sprouting corn reduced by bendiocarb0 aFeeding by bobwhites on sprouting corn reduced by bendiocarb a35 -400 v903 a

Data collected incidental to an evaluation of toxic properties of bendiocarb to bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) indicated avian repellency properties. 2) More corn seedlings survived bobwhite depredation where bendiocarb was used, and more survived where bendiocarb was applied in-furrow than surface-banded. 3) Additional research is needed to determine the systemic repellency properties of bendiocarb, and to evaluate its usefulness as an avian damage control tool

1 aRobel, R.J.1 aMorrow, M.E. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/feeding-bobwhites-sprouting-corn-reduced-bendiocarb00910nas a2200133 4500008004100000245009800041210006900139300001300208490000700221520039300228100001600621700001600637856012300653 1987 eng d00aFox squirrel use of prairie habitats in relation to winter food supply and vegetation density0 aFox squirrel use of prairie habitats in relation to winter food  a115 -1200 v193 a

Our objective was to determine the distance from a forest into a prairie that fox squirrels, Sciurus niger, would go in search of black walnuts, Juglans nigra, that we buried in grids over forest-prairie transects. We found that both quantity of winter food and density of prairie vegetation affect the willingness of squirrels to enter dangerous prairie habitat to search for food

1 aKraus, K.E.1 aSmith, C.C. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fox-squirrel-use-prairie-habitats-relation-winter-food-supply-and-vegetation-density01580nas a2200157 4500008004100000245003800041210003800079260008900117300001300206520105900219653002201278100001801300700001801318700001701336856006901353 1986 eng d00aFire effects on tallgrass prairie0 aFire effects on tallgrass prairie aFargo, NDbNorth Dakota State University: Tri-College Center for Environmental Study a138 -1423 a

Fire has been an important natural part of tallgrass prairie ecosystems, started by both lightning and American Indians. Production of vegetation on burned areas can be double that on unburned, unmowed, and ungrazed areas where the old standing dead vegetation is deep. Burning stimulates earlier plant development than on unburned areas. In tallgrass prairie, burning stimulates flowering of warm-season grasses and increases stem density. Late spring burning results in fewer forbs but greater grass production than fall or early spring burning. Up to at least six years, above ground biomass is positively related to the number of years between burning. In Kansas, at least, burning is effective in keeping out exotic plants where the prairie grasses are vigorous. The few studies of fire effects consistently indicate that neither the ash left from burning nor heat form fires affects production. Warming of the increased growth resulting form burning. The increased light for new growth by removal of the old plants seems to be more important

10atallgrass prairie1 aHulbert, L.C.1 aClambey, G.K.1 aPemble, R.H. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-effects-tallgrass-prairie01092nas a2200133 4500008004100000245008000041210006900121300001300190490000800203520060200211653002200813100001700835856010600852 1985 eng d00aFire history of oak gallery forests in a northeast Kansas tallgrass prairie0 aFire history of oak gallery forests in a northeast Kansas tallgr a188 -1910 v1143 a

Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and chinquapin oak (Q. muehlenbergii) were repeatedly scarred from recurring fire in gallery forests on Konza Prairie in NE Kansas, and were therefore suitable for fire history evaluation. Fire scars were recorded in 23 different years, ranging from 1862 to 1983, on 19 sample trees taken from three noncontiguous gallery forest stands. The mean fire interval (MFI) calculated for these forests ranged from 11.2-19.7 years. The actual MFI, however, probably lies somewhere between that range and the historical interval for Flint Hills prairie fire of 2-3 years

10atallgrass prairie1 aAbrams, M.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-history-oak-gallery-forests-northeast-kansas-tallgrass-prairie00436nas a2200121 4500008004100000245007000041210006900111260004300180300001000223490001400233100001400247856005300261 1985 eng d00aFruiting strategies of the woody vine Parthenocissus quinquefolia0 aFruiting strategies of the woody vine Parthenocissus quinquefoli aManhattan, KSbKansas State University a1 -220 vMS Thesis1 aPacey, C. uhttp://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/2751601484nas a2200133 4500008004100000245008200041210006900123300001000192490000700202520099800209653002201207100001601229856010501245 1984 eng d00aFire as a natural disturbance to grasshopper assemblages of tallgrass prairie0 aFire as a natural disturbance to grasshopper assemblages of tall a9 -160 v433 a

Effects of spring wildfire on assemblages of grasshopper (Acrididae) nymphs hatching the following summer were studied in native tallgrass prairie in eastern Kansas, USA. Four watersheds (eight sites) of varying fire history were studied; similarities in initial assemblages of early instar nymphs among these watersheds reflected similarities in burning history. Controlled fires were set on three watersheds. Burning affected assemblage structure of grasshoppers hatching several weeks later, causing shifts in local species compositions as nymphs matured. such change apparently resulted because fire adversely affected survivorship of forb but not grass feeding hoppers. Because forb feeders were relatively most common on burned sites that had previously been protected from fire longest (four years), change in grasshopper assemblages after fire was particularly pronounced at these sites. Greatest species diversities occurred on sites subjected to intermediate frequency of fire

10atallgrass prairie1 aEvans, E.W. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-natural-disturbance-grasshopper-assemblages-tallgrass-prairie01448nas a2200181 4500008004100000245007700041210006900118260008000187300001300267520079200280653001401072653001201086653001401098100001801112700001701130700001701147856010201164 1983 eng d00aFire interval effects on flowering of grasses in Kansas bluestem prairie0 aFire interval effects on flowering of grasses in Kansas bluestem aSpringfield, MObDepartment of Biology, Southwest Missouri State University a255 -2573 a

The height, density, and weight of flower stems of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), and little bluestem (A. scoparius) on ungrazed areas burned in spring of 1979 differed with respect to time elapsed since the areas had been last burned: 1, 2, or 6 years previously. These results were found on deep, fertile soils on lower slopes in areas experimentally burned on Konza Prairie Research Natural Area in Geary County, Kansas. Height, density, and weight of flower stems of big bluestem were highly significantly greater as the length of interval increased. Indian grass and little bluestem showed some of the same tendency, but primarily showed marked reductions in the 6-year interval area, resulting in an increased dominance by big bluestem

10aflowering10aprairie10atallgrass1 aHulbert, L.C.1 aWilson, J.K.1 aKucera, C.L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-interval-effects-flowering-grasses-kansas-bluestem-prairie